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J U N E 23, 2019

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEWS FEATURES

LOCAL NEWS

4 Helping veterans through a little puppy love 5 Canyon Country Barber Shop celebrates the big 5-0 6 How to keep your home safe while on vacation The fight against property crime starts at home 7 Two missing persons reports leave questions unanswered

8 Ex sells cherished pup while owner works Castaic High gas pipeline timeline set 9 Coach accused of sex crimes, dies in custody Arson suspect ID’d by polka-dot shorts, pleads not guilty 10 Little Musketeers take a stab at fencing

FROM THE MAYOR

BUSINESS

SPORTS

DINING GUIDE RESTAURANT REVIEW

17 19

ENTERTAINMENT

14 Essential safety tips for hiking in the summer 15 GoTribe Fitness opens new location in Santa Clarita 16 MMA fighter angling for a shot at UFC 19 Traditional Italian food — made with love 20 Get ready to shred at Canyon Santa Clarita 21 ‘Godzilla’ and ‘Echo In the Canyon’

22 23

FOOD

TRAVEL

HEALTH

HOME IMPROVEMENT

SENIOR LIVING

PROFILE

GARDENING

TIMERANGER OPINION

35 42

26 Historic eateries around the Santa Clarita Valley 27 Learn about our neighbor to the north: Canada 28 Mail-order meds, limited use of hands 29 Contractor versus handyman for gas lines 31 Paying it forward 32 Behind the scenes in Santa Clarita 34 Make your backyard gardens magical nighttime respites 42 Our View • David Hegg • Tim Whyte

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J U N E 23, 2019

N E W S F E AT U R E S

Helping veterans through a little puppy love By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

avid Essex, a U.S. Army veteran, has known for years that he wants to help the veteran community, but it wasn’t until he began working with dogs that he was able to realize how he could help. Essex first began on this path when he rescued Ray, a partially blind Rottweiler-pit bull mix. “My first dog, Ray — the reason it’s called Ray’s Hope — was brought back twice to the pound, both times they said it was because they were moving,” he said. He had never worked with a blind dog before, and naturally he was having some issues with him, so he decided to bring him to Zoom Room, a Los Angeles dog training facility, Essex said. “I got so enthralled with the concept that my wife and I decided to buy the first franchise,” he said. Essex then started training dogs and went on to open three franchises throughout L.A., but it was one woman and her dog who stuck out. “My forte was working with fear, aggression and anxiety dogs,” he said. Sam was a rescued shepherd and a definite “project dog,” according to Essex. “I told her, ‘You have to come see me just about every day with this dog,’” he said. “The first day the dog bit me twice, and we had our issues and we had our little disagreements, me and the dog — but she stuck with it.” Sam had to take the same six-week, level one obedience course five times before he was able to get into a room with other dogs for the class. Essex came to find out, after working with the woman for two years, that she had severe post traumatic stress disorder, and before meeting Sam, the woman wouldn’t leave the house. It was taking Sam to training every day that forced her to get over her anxiety, Essex said. Essex had always wanted to find a way to combine his two passions: veterans and dogs. And it was after he was able to help this woman with her dog that he realized how he could

Top Left and Right: Ray’s Hope Rescue team member and U.S. Air Force veteran Julie Hollowell takes Rubik for a walk. Bottom Left: Ray’s Hope Rescue Founder David Essex with rescue dog Rubik. Ray’s Hope works with local rescue organizations to match each veteran to a canine companion who is then trained to be their emotional support dog, or “battle buddy.” PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

make that happen. He was then able to start Ray’s Hope: Rescue to Rescue, a nonprofit that provides veterans in need with critical resources to help them get back on their feet. Ray’s Hope works with local rescue organizations to match each veteran to a canine companion who is then trained to be their emotional support dog, or “battle buddy.” “The overall goal is to find the soldier a dog that really has issues, because the purpose of them working with the dog is that the soldier forgets their own issues by taking care of the dog,” Essex said. “And in about 60 days, you notice this bond that’s inseparable, and it really helps both.” Ray’s Hope doesn’t stop there, though. They also provide veterans with other resources through a sixmonth program, including room and board, counseling, Veteran Affairs assistance, financial coaching and career training. The first half is spent getting a dog to pair the soldier with and training that dog, then the last three months are spent preparing the soldier to be

financially ready to move out and be self-sufficient, according to Essex. “We’re helping them make more adult decisions,” Essex said. “With every goal there’s going to be a lot of failure, and what they have a hard time dealing with is failure. So teaching them how to fail is important.” U.S. Air Force veteran Julie Hollowell and her 2-year-old rescued German shepherd, Lionel, were among the first to come into the program. “I was actually referred to Dave by one of my other female veteran friends,” Hollowell said. “We met a year and a half ago originally, but I wasn’t really ready to help myself yet.” “We can’t help somebody unless they’re ready to help themselves,” Essex said in response. Hollowell had to use her credit card to pay the bills for awhile, and racked up a significant amount of debt while she was out of work because of her health issues. “It’s like a little hole and it’s hard to climb out of it,” she said. Essex is mentoring her through her financial troubles as well as helping her train Lionel.

Lionel spent two and a half months at the shelter before Hollowell adopted him. “When I got home and started petting him, I found that he was completely emaciated,” Hollowell said. “He was skin and bone under all the matted fur, and was so weak that he couldn’t walk up or down the stairs.” Lionel also had severe separation anxiety and hyper reactivity issues, but a year later, he’s just a completely different dog, according to Hollowell. Hollowell has PTSD and anxiety, so Lionel is being trained to recognize those symptoms as well as waking her up in the morning and being weight bearing to help with her bad hip. “Since I’ve been here, I’m seeing a future for the first time in like, five years,” Hollowell said. “And I wouldn’t really have that without the mentoring I have received here. I think just being here in this environment where we’re both bettering ourselves, he’s letting his own walls drop and letting me in more.” Now, Hollowell is beginning an externship with Animal Behavior College in Valencia so she can work to become a service dog trainer. “I always joked that I was going to go work with dogs because they’re better than people and I don’t like people, but I’m very passionate about it so I’m going to go for it,” she said. “If I have the right tools to handle behaviors, then there won’t be a dog that I’ll ever have to turn away.” Since entering the program, Hollowell has been able to open herself up to people. “I’m not letting the anxiety stop me anymore,” she said. “It’s unbelievable how much support you receive when you reach out and open up about your struggles.” The next step for Ray’s Hope is to find property so they can expand their program, according to Essex. His goal is to have enough room for veterans to have separate housing and a mess hall area to gather, as well as room for kennels and training. Essex added: “We’re now trying to get the help that we need as far as financials.” For more information or to donate, visit rayshoperescue.org.

J U N E 23, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 5

N E W S F E AT U R E S

Canyon Country Barber shop celebrates t big 5-0 By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

live-tinted leather chairs with built-in ashtrays. Clippers and a scalp massager. Even a wooden rack adorned with all the magazines you’d expect to find at your dad’s barber shop. The place isn’t a postcard from a classic Norman Rockwell depiction of Americana. It’s Canyon Country Barber Shop, the longest running men’s establishment in the eastern vicinity of the Santa Clarita Valley, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary June 10. Throughout the decades, the neighborhood around the business has grown and changed. Owner Bob Ruiz, 76, can recall when the paved sidewalks just outside the Soledad Canyon Road shop were nothing but dirt pathways. Plenty has changed outside, but not much has within the walls of the barbershop. Two decades ago, Ruiz said he had no plans to retire, and that sentiment still stands. “A lot has changed, but life is still good. Little by little, the knees went out, hip went out, the hearing went out, but the clippers still work,” he said with a smile. “Age caught up with me, but I don’t plan on stopping.” The longtime Piru resident and barber with a thick, salt-and-pepper pompadour and goatee, has only slowed down by reducing his work days to three per week.

But he’s not alone. Ruiz’s staff consists of his youngest daughter, Anita, who has been in the business since 1990, and Simon Sarafyan and Demetrius Jackson. “They do it originally here, razors, combs, massagers,” said Jackson, regarding why he joined the team six years ago. From using wielding scissors to finishing each haircut with a scalp massage, the techniques and tools Ruiz has used since opening the business in 1969 remain unchanged. “They don’t even teach this (using an electric massager) at barber school anymore,” said Ruiz. “The hairstyles of course go and come back. During the ‘70s and ‘80s when the long hair was in, business slowed down a little. Then the skin type really got famous and the guys were coming in every week to keep the sides clean. That’s when we started a minimum service.” “Prices have (changed), of course. When we opened we were getting $3,” he added. Today, an average cut at Ruiz’s shop averages around $19. Originality and tradition are what has kept generations coming back. Since he was 9 years old, stopping by with his father, to now a father himself, Perry Mathews has always asked for a flat top cut from Ruiz. “I’ll let (my hair) grow and put a hat on if

Barber Robert Ruiz cuts the hair of longtime customer Perry Mathews at Canyon Country Barbershop in Canyon Country. The shop celebrated its 50-year anniversary June 10. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

I have to before going to anyone else,” he said. “It’s a family spot, like when you find a good restaurant or a nice place to hang out; you’re welcomed and they know your name and kinda how you like it done.” And he’s not the only one who considers the barbershop a go-to. Councilman Bob Kellar is a regular, stopping by since his days with the Los Angeles Police Department in the late 1960s. Generations of the McKeon family, including former Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon, have also stopped by over the years. Besides known for giving quality haircuts, Canyon Country Barber Shop has established itself as a longtime sponsor of the Canyon Country High School Cowboys football team, as well for Golden Valley High School. “Canyon opened in 1968, a year before we opened, and we’ve been sponsoring them ever since,” said Ruiz. “It’s a nice way

Left: Ruiz, left, uses a straight razor and shaving cream for a close shave around Mathews’ ears. Right: Ruiz, center, and his daughter Anita put money in the cash register, which the elder Ruiz has had since his shop’s opening.

to help the kids out and they help me.” It’s been a good 50 years overall, Ruiz said. While the shop’s barbers and customers expect him to see him stick around longer, Anita said she can’t help but think about what will happen when he does decide to retire. “Bob’s a staple,” she said. “If and when he does take off, he’ll lose customers just because of him being a staple. Everyone’s going to come in and ask, ‘Where’s your dad? How’s your dad?’ What happens when he’s not OK? I don’t want to be here for that.” Despite working in the hair industry for more than two decades, Anita said she would not like to take on the business in the future. “I don’t like the job, I’m just a daddy’s girl,” she said laughing. The future is unknown, but one thing for sure is that Canyon Country Barber Shop barbers show no signs of defeat. The shop is located at 18234 1/2 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country. The location is open Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

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J U N E 23, 2019

N E W S F E AT U R E S

How to keep your home safe while on vacation By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

ith summer just around the corner, families everywhere are getting ready for exciting summer vacations. But those vacations aren’t just exciting for you; summer is also a criminal’s favorite time of year. Burglary rates soar as houses and apartments are left empty while their owners are traveling — and these homes become a beacon for criminals, tempting them to try to get in. After the holidays, burglaries are most common during the summer months from June to August, according to a study of the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program from 2011 to 2017 done by ASecureLife. The study goes on to conclude that California is one of the top five states to lose the most to burglary even though it is also has the third highest rate of burglary arrests at 22%.

Just as important as having a surveillance system like Ring (left) is making sure the system is prominently displayed (right), so thieves know it’s there, too. PHOTOS BY CORY RUBIN / THE SIGNAL

Burglary costs victims an average of $2,416 and the total bill reaches approximately $3.4 billion in property loss for 2017 alone, with the most commonly stolen items being cash, jewelry and guns, per the study. This is why it’s not only important to be aware and alert, but also proactive when it comes to home security.

The City of Santa Clarita offers various home safety tips online on their Resident Service Center, so here are some of those tips along with some additional insight from Deputy Kevin Duxbury, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department’s Crime Prevention Unit, on how to keep your home safe this summer.

The fight against property crime starts at home By Sunday Signal Staff

he City of Santa Clarita works hand in hand with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station in an effort to reduce property crimes, including burglaries, whether the victim is home or away. Some of the recent efforts have included a giveaway with the Ring home-security company, the #9PMRoutine and the “Stolen Collection,” an award-winning campaign the city created to make residents more aware.

Doorbell security

Ring, Nest Labs and August Home are the three most popular brands with respect to video doorbell security, and, in fact, the city recently offered a rebate in partnership with Ring to encourage more residents to adopt this type of security. “It’s definitely a good tool to install these systems whether its a surveillance camera or motion detection,” said Lt. Ignacio Somoano of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station, in a recent interview with The Signal.

“They do help in the long run.” Video doorbells are more commonplace and serve as an entry point to the do-it-yourself home-security game, and have grown to become one of law enforcement’s most useful investigative tools. Somoano, the supervisor of the SCV station’s Detectives Bureau, confirmed sheriff ’s deputies commonly use home surveillance video to identify suspects committing crimes in the Santa Clarita Valley. “We’ve had several successes,” the lieutenant said. “Patrol deputies will recognize people that have been arrested before just by looking at the video.” Recognizing a rise in accessible surveillance footage, the station setup the email address SantaClaritaMedia@lasd.org for people to send video of crimes, Somoano noted.

#9pmRoutine, ‘Stolen’

The #9pmRoutine and ‘Stolen’ are both campaigns meant to make people aware of the risks of not securing their items, according to city officials, and to remind them of the need to be careful.

Despite Santa Clarita’s reputation as one of the safest cities, officials don’t want residents to take that for granted, said Carrie Lujan, spokeswoman for the City of Santa Clarita. “Even with these impressive statistics, the city, along with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station, continue to remind residents not to take their safety for granted,” Lujan stated in an email to The Signal, noting that this year’s crime numbers are, so far, on pace to be lower than last year’s record-low numbers. “Campaigns such as the ‘Stolen Collection’ and the ‘#9pmRoutine’ encourage community members to lock doors and windows and to not leave valuable items in plain sight.” And the residents have responded. The city’s first partnership with Ring led to the rebates going so quickly that city officials created a second opportunity for residents who weren’t able to get one of the first 500. As of Monday, the city still had approximately 55 rebates available for interested residents of the second 500 rebates, which means about 945 people have taken advantage so far.

Lock doors and windows

This is a simple step, yet easy to forget. Make sure to have good locks on all doors and windows and use them, including gates to your backyard or garage doors. It also wouldn’t be a bad idea to disconnect your automatic garage door as a thief with a universal remote may be able to open your door.

Remove any spare keys you may have stashed

Keeping a spare key stashed outside your house is never a great idea, but if you’re going on vacation, it might be time to remove it as, most of the time, your hiding spots aren’t as unique as you may think. If a criminal figures out you’re away, they’re probably going to check your porch (or that plastic-looking rock) for a spare key.

Ask a friend or neighbor to check on your house

Having someone stop by from time to time can not only protect your house, but also give you a little peace of mind while you’re traveling. Ask them to move some stuff around, adjust blinds or turn different lights on and off to help deter criminals from thinking no one is in the house. If you’re comfortable with them, you should give them a key so they can bring your mail in or in case of emergency. Also, make sure they have a way to contact you in case something does happen. See SAFETY, page 11

J U N E 23, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 7

N E W S F E AT U R E S

Two missing persons reports leave questions unanswered

Left: Missing person William Cierzan. Middle: The Laspisa family had a billboard erected in Castaic to help find Bryce Laspisa. They’re still trying to find him. Right: Bryce Laspisa. COURTESY PHOTOS By Perry Smith, Sunday Signal Editor

n average, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station deputies receive several hundred missing persons reports each year, and sometimes more than one a day. Due to procedure, most are handled by the Sheriff ’s Department’s Homicide Bureau. And recent partnerships between the city, Sheriff ’s Station and Los Angeles County — which created resources like a Special Needs Registry and a Mental Evaluation Team — have helped reduce the number of calls and avoid a worstcase scenario for a loved one. Knowing about resources can help be a help for those in need, and for first-responders who lead the searches for those who have turned up missing. But there are still two recent cases that have defied explanation as far as what really happened, and barring any new evidence, remain likely to stay that way. The separate, unrelated disappearances of Bryce Laspisa and William Cierzan, in 2013 and 2017, respectively, both drew large search parties throughout the Santa Clarita Valley at the time of their respective reports. The two men remain as part of unsolved missing person files, leaving their loved ones with nothing but questions about what happened.

Bryce Laspisa

The Laspisa family has still not given up hope that Bryce will come home, even though it’s been nearly a

half-dozen years since he vanished without a trace. His last sighting was passing through the Santa Clarita Valley on his way home to Orange County. “We keep hope alive,” said Karen Laspisa, Bryce’s mother, in a past interview with The Signal. “We have heard stories of people who have been missing for years, and that are found — and that’s always our hope, that we keep our faith that Bryce will be found.” Bryce Laspisa, who attended Sierra College near Sacramento and whose parents live in Laguna Niguel at the time, was believed to have disappeared somewhere in the Castaic Lake area on Friday, Aug. 30. “Shortly after 10 p.m. Aug. 28, the young man left Sierra College and began his drive to Laguna Niguel,” according to a 2013 report in The Signal. “At 5:30 a.m. Aug. 30, officers of the California Highway Patrol found his 2003 Toyota Highlander SUV on its side at the bottom of a 15-foot ravine, near Castaic Lake, the back window shattered.” Search parties combed the area in and around Castaic Lake for days following the report of his disappearance, looking for any sign of the missing teen. The daily efforts organized by officials wrapped up Sept. 30, and there was also a service held in his honor. But there remains a phone number and a sporadically updated Facebook kept by the family in hopes that Bryce will be found. “I wish we could,” said Denise, a

private investigator who answered a phone number left on Laspisa’s Facebook page, when asked if there was any update to the search. The family still forwards calls to the P.I. when they go on vacation, she said. The “Find Bryce Laspisa” Facebook page currently has about 30,000 followers, and was last updated in December, when human remains were found in the Santa Clarita Valley. “The remains in Santa Carita are being investigated,” reads the last post relating to the search for Bryce, “but the preliminary report indicates a much older person with extensive dental work.”

William Cierzan

Another family that’s been spent years trying to find out what happened to their loved one is the Cierzan’s, who’ve been seeking answers for what happened to William for almost two and a half years now. William Cierzan let his wife know that dinner was in the oven, and that he was waiting on her coming back home, as he’d just finished watching golf on television with his nephew. That was Jan. 26, 2017. It was the last time Linda Cierzan heard from her husband. “The 58-year-old Cierzan was in great spirits, she recalls of that day, when he told her the chicken was cooked,” according to a previous report in The Signal written on the two-year anniversary of William’s disappearance. Linda reportedly came home to their house on Cuatro Milpas Street,

near Seco Canyon Road, in Saugus, and found dinner was ready, the oven was turned off and William, very uncharacteristically, was nowhere to be found. Her husband’s personal effects that he’d likely take with him if he went out — his keys, coat, wallet etc. — were in the house, with credit cards and money in the wallet, which was also strange. Two years later, there is still no sign of the loveable, hard-working, church-going man faithful to his wife, the article noted. “I periodically get calls and emails from friends and concerned people who still think about Will and offer heartfelt and hopeful comments about his safe return,” Linda Cierzan told The Signal, in an article written on the second anniversary of his disappearance, in January. “Some might say that Will’s sisters and I are being foolish to hope that Will is coming back any time soon. To those I would say — but you don’t know our Will,” she said. “He is strong and good, considerate, determined, he is ever faithful to God and so I know that God will be faithful to him.” Anyone who has information about a missing persons case and would like to help can contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be submitted 24/7 at www.LACrimestoppers.org or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Jim Holt contributed to this report.

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J U N E 23, 2019

LOCALNEWS

Ex sells cherished pup while owner works By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

reaking up comes typically with some pain, but not usually the sort suffered by Ashley Farley — who returned home from work to learn her boyfriend had sold her dog. The ex-boyfriend’s parting words to Farley in the abrupt unexpected breakup were: “You’re never going to see her again.” Farley remains devastated that her 7-pound, purebred, carry-ina-purse Pomeranian named Ella is in the hands of strangers who bought her through an ad posted on Craigslist. “When I think about it, I start to cry,” she said, referring to her dog — not the ex. “It’s been one of the most heartbreaking and devastating experiences in my life,” she said Monday. Today marks one week since the unauthorized dog sale took place. Farley has only had the tiny dog since May 5, when she bought Ella from a breeder. “She still doesn’t have all her shots,” she said. “She has medicine because she has an infection.” The dog’s medicine was not handed over, apparently, when the ex-boyfriend handed over the dog. “I got her because she’s my emotional support,” Farley said. “I’m going through a lot these days, anxiety and bad depression. “She helps me being alone,” Farley said, noting she moved recently from her family home in Reno, Nevada, to pursue a singing career. “It’s like I lost one of my children,” she said. “It’s like a piece of my heart has been ripped out. I can’t sleep, I don’t eat. It tears me up.” On the day she returned from work and was told the heartbreaking news, Farley said she phoned deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station. The ex-boyfriend, whom Farley had known for a couple of months, has left the state, she said. She’s posted photos of Ella on social media and reached out to veterinarians in the off chance the dog buyers brought her in.

Above: Ashley Farley holds Ella’s toys and a picture of her after an ex-boyfriend sold her on Craigslist. Farley had Ella since May 5, when she bought her from a breeder. Right: A picture of Ella laying on top of her dog bed. PHOTOS BY LORENA MEJIA / THE SIGNAL

No word on Ella’s whereabouts. “All I want is to find my puppy,” Farley said, noting investigating dep-

uties told her to keep away from her ex-boyfriend due to the callousness of the crime.

“I didn’t know him as well as I could have,” she said. “He did it to hurt me.”

Castaic High gas pipeline timeline set By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

fficials and local stakeholders agreed Tuesday that the gas pipeline and meter at Castaic High School is to be completed by July 12. Randy Wrage, the project manager for the 200-acre site, said that on Tuesday — a day after county officials approved the permitting for the Southern California Gas Co. — a group of contracting, building, coun-

ty, school district and gas company officials had met on the site to discuss the needs of the project. “It was a very successful meeting,” Wrage said. The plan as it stands, as of Tuesday, is for the builders to begin digging the trenches needed for the piping today. The gas company is expected to start laying pipes on Thursday. The meter will be installed and the infrastructure needed for the gas service will be completed by July 12,

Wrage said. The website for Castaic High School says that these construction dates will not affect registration activities for students and their families, who will be picking up their registration packets on July 25 and 26 from school staff outside of the school. Students, and Castaic High as a school, will have their first registration days on Aug. 8 and 12. The first day of school is scheduled Aug. 13.

J U N E 23, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 9

LOCALNEWS

Coach accused of sex crimes, dies in custody By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

n accomplished Santa Clarita Valley swim coach died this week after he was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in Costa Rica on suspicion of performing lewd acts with a child. Jeremy Anderson, 47, was taken into custody and was in the process of being extradited from the Central American country and brought back to the U.S., Sgt. Brian Hudson, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department’s Special Victims Bureau, said Thursday. On Wednesday night, members of the Canyons Aquatic Club, where Anderson coached swimmers, received an email from club officials informing them that Anderson had died. Details about the sudden death have not yet been released. Canyons Aquatic Club President Carole Horst issued a statement Thursday, which reads: “Canyons Aquatic Club is aware of the death of

Jeremy Anderson. “Canyons Aquatic Club had been fully cooperating with authorities investigating the allegations involving Anderson, which were of great concern to the club,” the statement said. “We have worked closely for some time with SafeSport, and the impacted families in the club have shown great strength and resilience in confronting this horrible situation. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, who hopefully can find closure on the path to healing.” The scope of the investigation into allegations about Anderson grew. “At first we had one victim reported and we ended up with 11 victims,” Hudson said, reflecting on the investigation. In December 2017, Special Victims Bureau detectives began investigating the circumstances regarding the alleged sexual assault of a child that occurred between the years of 2006 and 2011 by his swim instructor in Santa Clarita. The victim told detectives that he had been assaulted by Jeremy Anderson, who was his swim instructor at

Canyons Aquatic Club. The club is based out of College of the Canyons, according to the program’s website. The allegations were brought to the attention of the Sheriff ’s Department by a representative from SafeSport. As the investigation evolved, detectives said they identified additional children who were victimized by Anderson. The incidents with these multiple victims occurred at various locations between 2006 and 2017. Anderson’s conduct allegedly included having sexually explicit conversations with the victims, sexually assaulting them and soliciting child pornography. On Dec. 18, 2018, detectives presented their case to prosecutors with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. The D.A. then filed 19 counts of lewd acts with a child and possession of child pornography against Anderson. Detectives learned Anderson had fled from the United States prior to being able to take him into custody. An arrest warrant was issued.

Last week, on June 13, the United States Marshall’s Service, Pacific South West Fugitive Task Force, assisted by the Sheriff ’s Department, tracked Anderson to Costa Rica, where they then arrested him. SafeSport is an organization entrusted with the authority to respond to reports of sexual misconduct with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movements. Anyone with information about this incident can contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department, Special Victims Bureau toll-free tip line at 877-710-5273 or by email at specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org. The Special Victims Bureau is tasked with investigating the sexual and physical abuse of children and felonious sexual assaults involving adult victims. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), or use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP or “P3 Mobile” for the hearing impaired on Google play or the App Store, or by using the website http:// lacrimestoppers.org.

Arson suspect ID’d by polka-dot shorts, pleads not guilty By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

man arrested on suspicion of arson for an alleged fire-setting at the back of a Ralphs supermarket last week, after allegedly being identified by his bright pink polka-dot shorts in an Instagram post, pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday. Spencer Greenberg, 29, of Valencia, appeared Wednesday in San Fernando Superior Court, where he entered his plea after officially being charged. “He was charged (Wednesday) with one count of arson of a structure or forest,” Ricardo Santiago, spokesman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, said Wednesday. “He pleaded not guilty to the charge and is due back on July 8 for prelim setting,” he said, referring to

the task of setting a date to have a preliminary hearing.

Three arrests in one week

Greenberg was arrested Friday morning by deputies of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station on suspicion of setting a fire in the back of the Ralphs grocery store at 27760 McBean Parkway in Valencia, according to Shirley Miller, spokeswoman for the SCV Sheriff ’s Station. Deputies had released Greenberg the same morning of the fire, after he had been arrested on suspicion of narcotics possession, according to Shirley Miller, spokeswoman for the SCV Sheriff ’s Station. Later that same day, Greenberg was arrested for the second time, again on suspicion of narcotics charges, while wearing his pink shorts and a dark-colored shirt, which led to

Spencer Greenberg, identified as an arson suspect by his polka-dot shorts COURTESY PHOTO

an Instagram post by the sheriff ’s station, documenting his distinctive clothing, according to another social

media post from the sheriff ’s station Friday night. So when Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Arson and Explosive detectives sent out a bulletin to deputies a few days later, asking for their help in identifying their suspect, deputies were able to connect the dots, per the post. The bulletin included screenshots of the arson suspect, wearing the same bright pink shorts and dark-colored shirt, obtained from the store’s surveillance cameras, the post read. With that information, arson detectives reportedly were able to continue with their investigation, and on Friday morning, Greenberg was located in Hawthorne and arrested for the third time in less than a week, this time on arson charges, according to Miller.

10 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U N E 23, 2019

LOCALNEWS

Little Musketeers take a stab at fencing By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

s her dad stood back and watched, 3-year-old Corilyn Calcote attempted to thrust her sword into her opponent. Although it was a bold stroke, Corilyn’s armored opponent was able to quickly parry the attack, and finish off the young child with a decisive riposte. Their fencing instructor, Tigran Shaginian, then concluded the skirmish, and asked them to switch partners. For every Tuesday of the summer, Santa Clarita Valley 3 to 6-year-olds in the Little Musketeers program will lunge and parry one another for the first time in their city Recreation and Community Services Department class led by the staff at Swords Fencing Studios. A little over 10 students make up the class, and for eight weeks, they’ll learn the fundamentals of fencing. “We’re teaching the basics like the positions, how to advance, to retreat, keeping your distance, how to attack, how to defend,” Shaginian said of the Swords Fencing Studio class. “We’re teaching them, but not going too indepth … just introducing them.” “It’s like physical chess,” said Shaginian of the Olympic sport being taught to the kids. “And there’s a lot of interest at this age with the cartoons

Head fencing coach Tigran Shaginian, left, looks on as a group of 3- to 6-yearolds learn the basics of fencing during the Little Musketeers class presented by Swords Fencing Studio. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

and movies.” Shaginian said that introducing kids at a young age to something, especially a sport like fencing, helps develop their minds toward strategy, dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

Productive and recreational

Shaginian is backed into a corner by his students

But for Alicia Talixto, she wanted her kids to have a productive, recreational activity during the summer that also aligned with what they’re interested in. “They love swords, they run around with sticks and pretend they’re swords,” said Talixto, joking that she didn’t want her kids hurting one another when they were outside playing fantasy games. “I wanted them to learn the right way.” The class begins with light stretching, then progresses through a handful of exercises to cement the fundamentals and remind the students of what they learned during the previous week’s class. However, once warmed up, the swordplay begins. Although the older or more experi-

enced classes use metal swords with a protective stopper at the point of the dulled blade, the Little Musketeers classmates spar against one another using structurally similar swords, but made of plastic. Cole Calcote, whose 3-year-old daughter, Corilyn, was enrolled in class, said it was something different, and that he and his wife want their daughter to experience a variety of sports while growing up to find out what she’s good at or enjoys. “Her mom and I were involved in sports, so we kind of wanted her to decide what she wanted to do when she gets older and not feel pressure to do one thing,” said Calcote. According to Shaginian, it is not too late to sign up for the fencing class; there are also a number of Recreation and Community Services

Students practice their “advance” and “retreat” during the Little Musketeers class.

Department classes still available for this summer. For more information visit www. santa-clarita.com/city-hall/departments/ recreation-community-services -and-open-space/recreation/seasons.

J U N E 23, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 1

N E W S F E AT U R E S

SAFETY

Continued from page 6

If you have more than one person coming to watch your house, you should make sure they know about each other, or else one could end up accidentally calling the police on the other. If not, at least tell your neighbors that you’re leaving so they can let you know if something is amiss.

Don’t tip off criminals with social media posts

Be careful what you say on social media as you never know who is reading your posts. Don’t put anything online indicating that you’ll be gone. Even if your posts are private, it is safer to avoid it altogether or at least be sure not to mention the exact dates that you’ll be gone.

Curtains closed — or open?

Before leaving for vacation, most would think that closing their curtains would help prevent people from looking inside to see if you’re home, but closed curtains also prevent police, neighbors or friends from seeing in to make sure that nothing has been taken. Instead, leave your curtains exactly how you usually keep them when you’re home as noticeable changes can actually be giveaways that you’re not home. Closing the blinds halfway or so that only certain areas or rooms are hidden is a good alternative. You should also move expensive items, like jewelry or laptops, out of plain sight, if they’re visible from the outside. Simulate a human presence by leaving lights on a timer Now don’t leave all the lights on in

SCV residents can request a vacation check from the local Sheriff’s Station while they’re out on vacation.

an effort to make it look like someone is home as your electricity bill will not be a pretty sight. Instead, purchase a timer for various lights in your home and set them to turn on at different intervals. Thieves keeping tabs on your house will notice lights flipping on or off and will most likely assume it’s a human doing the flipping. A motion-sensor light outside can also deter prowlers, whether you’re home or not. When looking for a way inside, burglars typically prefer dark areas, so motion-sensing lights can eliminate blindspots and scare them off.

Stop your mail

An overflowing mailbox and pile of

newspapers on the driveway can be a dead giveaway that you’re not home. If you don’t have someone coming by to get your mail regularly, place a stop order on all mail and newspapers. You can sign up online to have the USPS hold your mail at your local post office for free for 30 days.

Get some sort of home security system

Having a security system will almost always deter burglars, so not only should you have it but also advertise that you do. There are various different systems that’ll work, so do your research and pick the one best suited to your needs. Video doorbells can also help you monitor traffic with motion-detecting cameras and can even allow you to speak to visitors in real time through an app. If you have a security system, make sure it is set when you leave the house. You should also remember to check the batteries in case a thief is smart enough to turn off your power or if there’s an outage. Don’t forget to also alert your alarm company that you are going to be away if possible.

Keep up on regular home maintenance

An untended lawn can also scream

“no one is home,” so make sure to make arrangements to have this taken care of. You should also beware of your trash as it can attract attention if it hasn’t been taken out in weeks. If trash day comes while you’re on vacation, ask a neighbor if they can pull your cans out and bring them back in after the trash is taken. Since they’re already doing it themselves, it’s generally not too much of an inconvenience.

Request a ‘Vacation Check’

The Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department conducts “Vacation Checks” for those who are going on vacation and want an occasional check. “They will either have some of our volunteers on patrol or even deputies will just make sure they do a drive-by of the house occasionally,” Duxbury said. They ask you submit your request no more than a week in advance and provide information on the location, dates, any alarm systems and an emergency contact. Prevent or report crime by contacting the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station at 661-255-1121 or in case of an emergency, dial 911.

12 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U N E 23, 2019

THINGSTODO

Take a walk down historic Broadway By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

worked for nearly 20 years in downtown Los Angeles. From 1977 to 1996 I commuted to Second and Spring streets. During those years, I never really understood the scope of the historic architectural treasures that stood on Broadway, just blocks from where I worked. Yes, I visited the Bradbury Building and Grand Central Market, but Angels Flight was still in storage and Broadway was a gritty enclave of homelessness and cheap electronics stores. As gentrification moves to Broadway many of the beautiful old buildings, more than a few built before 1930, are being lovingly restored and repurposed. There is a rebirth going on now in this historic core of Los Angeles. Now is the time to take a walk down Broadway (with a few detours) to see the magnif-

Los Angeles Times

202 West 1st Street Year of Completion 1935 Architectural Style Late Art Deco The former home of the Los Angeles Times has been converted to office space.

Grand Central Market

317 S. Broadway Year of Completion 1896 Architectural Style Beaux Arts It was the first fireproofed, reinforced concrete building in L.A. and the first west of Chicago to have concrete floors. The building’s first tenant was the Ville de Paris Department Store. The market opened in 1917 and currently features mostly gourmet eateries and a few product vendors.

Million Dollar Theatre

307 S. Broadway Year of Completion 1918 Architectural Spanish Churrigueresque One of the earliest and largest movie palaces in the country, boasting 2,345 seats. The theater opened Feb. 1, 1918, with the premiere of “The Silent Man” accompanied by a 30-piece orchestra. Guests included Douglas Fairbanks Sr., Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin. In the 1940s, the theater hosted jazz and big band stars, such as Billie Holiday, Artie Shaw and Lionel Hampton.

icent movie palaces (and a select few other remarkable buildings) that at one time drew generations of residents to the city center.

Getting there

You can drive to downtown. There are many parking garages on Broadway that offer parking for $15 for the entire day, and that’s on a weekday. My favorite way to travel is to take the Metrolink Antelope Valley Line from any of the Santa Clarita Valley stations — Newhall, Santa Clarita or Via Princessa. Visit the Metrolink website for fares and schedules. https://metrolinktrains.com From Union Station, cross Alameda Street and visit Olvera Street, known as “the birthplace of Los Angeles.” Walk down Main Street past the Pico House (1870). Make a right onto 1st Street, then a left on Broadway. Your tour begins here.

Roxie Theatre

518 S. Broadway Year of Completion 1931 Architectural Style Art Deco The last theater built on Broadway. Noted for its stepped roofline, tower, decorative chevrons and highly stylized geometric forms. It seated 1,600 and was designed for film presentation. The lobby was converted to retail use in the late 1980s.

Cameo Theatre

528 S. Broadway Year of Completion 1910 Architectural Style Classical Revival Opened in 1910 as Clune’s Broadway Theatre to screen first-run films, the 900-seat theatre was one of the country’s first theatres built to show movies. The modest neoclassical design was considered quite elegant for a movie theatre at the time. It is now a retail store.

Arcade Theater

534 S. Broadway Year of Completion 1910 Architectural Style Beaux Arts The Pantages Theatre (renamed the Arcade in 1928) was built to house vaudeville and seated 1,400. It hosted opening-night performers, including Sophie Tucker, appearing on her first West Coast tour. Stan Laurel (of Laurel and Hardy) performed here in 1919. The lobby area was converted to retail use in 1993.

The Million Dollar Theatre. PHOTOS COURTESY VISIT CALIFORNIA

Broadway-Spring Arcade Building

541 S. Spring St. Year of Completion 1924 Architectural Style Beaux Arts, Spanish Baroque Built in 1924, the three-level, glass-roofed shopping arcade connects two 12-story office towers. Twisted and beaded columns shape the delicate arches that traverse the basement level. The arcade originally housed 61 shops. It is covered with a glass-roofed skylight in imitation of the Burlington Arcade in London. Left: The Roxie Theatre.

Right: The Cameo Theatre.

J U N E 23, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 3

THINGSTODO Eastern Columbia Lofts

Walter P. Story Building

849 S. Broadway Year of Completion 1930 Architectural Style Art Deco From its spectacular clock tower — emblazoned with the name Eastern in neon — down to its multi-colored terrazzo sidewalks, this 1930 downtown landmark was one of the largest buildings constructed in downtown until after WWII. This downtown landmark underwent a $30 million conversion in 2006 into 140 luxury condominiums.

610 S. Broadway Year of Completion 1909 Architectural Style Beaux Arts The building houses offices and jewelry businesses. The lobby, with its compact marble staircase, wide banisters and two-story newel posts, is clad in lightly-veined white marble and features a Tiffany-style stained glass skylight.

Los Angeles Theatre

615 S. Broadway Year of Completion 1931 Architectural Style Renaissance Revival The most lavish and last built of Broadway’s great movie palaces. Patterned after the celebrated Fox Theatre in San Francisco, it recalls the glories of the French Baroque. It is a popular filming and special-event location.

Palace Theatre

630 S. Broadway Year of Completion 1911 Architectural Style Renaissance Revival Opened as the third home of the Orpheum vaudeville circuit in L.A. It is one of L.A.’s oldest theatres and the oldest remaining original Orpheum theater in the U.S. It hosted many stars, including Harry Houdini, Will Rogers, Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth.

State Theatre and Building

703 S. Broadway Year of Completion 1921 Architectural Style Beaux Arts The State Theatre is a 12-story structure with a brick facade, one of the largest brick-clad buildings in L.A. It opened Nov. 12, 1921, with a vaudeville show and the premiere of the film “A Trip to Paradise.” In the mid-2000s, it became Universal Church of Christ.

Globe Theatre/Garland Building

744 S. Broadway Year of Completion 1913 Architectural Style Beaux Arts Built as a combination office tower and theater venue, it was unusual in that it accommodated not only vaudeville, but also full-scale dramatic productions. The current marquee dates back to the 1940s when the theater began showing newsreels and its name was changed to “The Globe.”

Quinn’s Rialto Theatre.

It is now a nightclub and live entertainment venue.

Hamburgers/May Company

801 S. Broadway Years of Completion 1906, 1908, 1923, 1929 Architectural Style Beaux Arts An enormous structure erected in 1906 that once boasted it was the largest department store on the Pacific Coast. It is clad in white-glazed terra-cotta. Founded in 1881 as “The People’s Store,” it became known as Hamburgers and then the May Company, when the May family took it over. In the late 1980s, the May Company closed this location. In 2014, the building was sold to create a venue for creative office, retail and hotel use.

The Tower Theater

800 S. Broadway Year of Completion 1927 Architectural Style Renaissance Revival It opened in 1927 with the silent film “The Gingham Girl,” and was the first film house in L.A. to be wired for talking pictures. It was the location of the sneak preview and Los Angeles premiere of the revolutionary talkie “The Jazz Singer” (1927), starring Al Jolson. During the 1990s, it was a popular location for film production, including the film “Mambo Kings.” In 2018, Apple announced plans to reuse The Tower Theatre as a retail operation.

Quinn’s Rialto Theatre

812 S. Broadway Year of Completion 1917 One of the first theaters to have stadium-style seating and features the longest neon marquee in the Broadway National Register Historic Theatre District.

Orpheum Theatre

842 S Broadway Year of Completion 1926 Architectural Style Beaux Arts This opulent theater and 12-story office building were built as the fourth and final home of the famed Orpheum vaudeville circuit in L.A. Prominent signage includes the original electric rooftop sign illuminated by incandescent bulbs, a neon blade sign dating from the 1930s and the 1941 theater marquee.

Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles and The Theatre at Ace Hotel

933 S. Broadway Year of Completion 1927 Architectural Style Spanish Gothic The flagship for United Artist’s West Coast operations. In 2012, the building was converted into the boutique Ace Hotel, and the theater was restored as an event and performance space. For more information, visit www.la conservancy.org/events/broadwayhistoric-theatre-and-commercialdistrict-walking-tour

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14 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U N E 23, 2019

F R O M T H E M AY O R

Essential safety tips for hiking in the summer By Mayor Marsha McLean

n Santa Clarita, summer can be a great time of the year for residents to hit the trails and explore the natural beauty our City has to offer. Santa Clarita has more than 11,000 acres of open space that can be explored through picturesque trails that lead to gorgeous vistas of the City and beyond. However, whether you are hiking, biking or riding a horse through our trails, it is important that you take measures to stay safe — especially during the hot summer days. The following are a few tips I want to share to ensure you, and your family, have an enjoyable time on our trails.

Visit HikeSantaClarita.com

The City of Santa Clarita has an entire website dedicated to provid-

ing helpful information about our trails and open spaces. The Hike Santa Clarita website offers a listing of all open spaces and includes descriptions, directions and detailed maps for each location. The website is also a great place for beginners to learn about safety tips, etiquette and review frequently asked questions.

Plan your hike

Before starting your hike, take a moment to do some research about the trails. Also, check the weather forecast before deciding on the difficulty and duration. Try to start your hike early whenever possible to enjoy lower temperatures.

Hydrate

As always, it is important to stay hydrated. You should always carry water with you, even if you are planning to go for a short hike. This is more important during the summertime when high tempera-

tures can cause your body to lose more fluids through perspiration.

Use sun protection

Protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays and layer on the sunscreen, put on your sunglasses, wear a hat or even take an umbrella with you.

Wear appropriate clothing

What you wear in the heat is important. It’s best to wear light-colored clothing and something that is lightweight, breathable or loose to help your body regulate temperature.

Pay attention to your surroundings

If taking photos while in our open space, please be careful and watch your step. Remember to stay on the designated trails; this is encouraged for your safety, as well as the preservation of our natural environment. If you do take some Instagram-worthy snapshots, be

sure to share them on social media using the hashtag #HikeSanta Clarita.

Make a little noise

We share the open space with wildlife such as mountain lions, rattlesnakes and bears. It is their home as much as it is ours. While hiking, make a little noise to ensure other hikers, as well as critters, get advanced notice of your presence so they are not startled. Hiking is a fun and free outdoor activity that the entire family can enjoy. To learn more about Santa Clarita’s open spaces and other trail tips, please visit HikeSantaClarita. com. Mayor Marsha McLean is a member of the Santa Clarita City Council and can be reached at mmclean@ santa-clarita.com. The views expressed in her column are those of the city and do not necessarily reflect those of The Signal.

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S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 5

BUSINESS

GoTribe Fitness opens new location in Santa Clarita By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

oTribe Fitness co-founder Jacob Hoffman started the company five years ago with his partner, Chris, after both had worked at corporate fitness gyms and had “come to the conclusion that they don’t care about customers and their results.” “That’s why we had become personal trainers,” Hoffman added. “We wanted to care about our clients and their results, so we started the company based on that. It sounds cliché, but it’s the truth.” When asked what makes their gym unique, Hoffman said it comes down to their process and technology. Since creating the company in 2014, they’ve been working on their own unique fitness data-tracking app and software, which helps their clients maximize accountability, according to Hoffman. Along with the app, GoTribe also has unique workouts that are designed to fit the client’s specific goal, he said. Programs are designed by an expert, while classes are split into “lifters and burners” — those who want to gain strength versus those who want to lose weight. “The amount of work we put on our trainers for taking on their clients is tremendous,” Hoffman said. “(This way,) clients are getting max attention

GoTribe Fitness looks to offer a more personal approach to training, which includes an encouraging environment and a fitness app meant to help clients track their progress. PHOTOS COURTESY OF GOTRIBE

to get results and trainers are going to work harder and have more accountability.” GoTribe also offers nutritional coaching and stress management in addition to their fitness classes. “The truth is, you can do workouts anywhere and get results,” he said. “But 75% of our member base is because of the relationships we have with them. The ‘tribe’ in GoTribe means we’re really a community and we support each other.” GoTribe member Wendi Johnston was searching for small-group fitness training and happened upon the gym last November when they were still in their beginning stages of getting a

GoTribe held a grand opening last week to celebrate its newest location in the SCV.

permanent location. “I started out just a couple of days a week and increased to unlimited classes monthly because I love the classes and the people — both the trainers and the members,” Johnston

said. “The trainers guide you through your fitness and health journey, set personal goals, hold you accountable and connect with you on a personal level … We cheer one another on and interact as a ‘tribe.’” Hoffman and his partner opened their first location in North Hollywood because that was where a majority of their clients were at the time, then they opened a second location in Palmdale before turning to the Santa Clarita Valley, according to Hoffman. “Santa Clarita made the most sense because it’s a great community to live in,” he said. “We’re really excited to open this one and help people in the community. They have a lot of options, but I recommend trying us and the difference will speak for itself.” GoTribe is located at 23340 Cinema Drive, No. 5, in Valencia. For more information, visit gotribefit.com or call 661-347-4610.

16 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U N E 23, 2019

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t Batcave Kickboxing in Stevenson Ranch, the topic of conversation switches to fishing. “He likes to fish,” coach German Baltazar said of Israel Galvan, one of his fighters. “And we eat them,” said Galvan’s father and manager, Josh, with a smile. Israel Galvan puts in his two cents, saying he fishes off of Ventura Pier. But regardless of where he casts his line, it’s done with purpose. The 18-year-old Galvan is angling for more than just fish. When it comes to fighting, MMA in particular, he’s striving for a contract with the UFC and eventually a title. He’s been training in MMA for a year and a half, bouncing between jiu-jitsu, boxing and kickboxing since his early teens. It began with boxing, but his dad pulled him from the sport and put him in soccer, thinking it was a safer option for his naturally aggressive son. When Galvan’s older brother began kickboxing, however, Josh couldn’t keep his younger son away. “(My older brother) was having fun and I was a little jealous,” Galvan said. “I’m a fighter, I like fighting and so I asked my dad if I could go and he’s like, ‘Yeah, sure I’ll take you,’ and that’s how it started.” He even wrestled for Valencia High School and trained at Peterson Grapplers after a stint at the now-defunct Big John McCarthy’s. Two years ago, Galvan was introduced to Baltazar, a former professional MMA fighter and kickboxer. “When he came here to train and with a little bit of sparring, he was already aggressive off the bat, and that’s what you want to see out of a fighter,” Baltazar said. “It was a good first impression actually training with him.” More than anything, Baltazar said he recognized ambition in Galvan, who also works on grappling at S.K. Golden Boys in North Hollywood. His drive prompted him to suggest training for the 2019 IMMAF-WMMAA Pan American Open Championships in Nassau, Bahamas.

Mixed martial arts fighter Israel Galvan takes a quick break during a training session at Batcave Kickboxing. He’s been training in the sport for about 18 months and already starting to see results in the octagon. PHOTO BY HALEY SAWYER / THE SIGNAL

“They asked me if I had anybody that had the potential of winning at this tournament,” Baltazar said. “I said, ‘Yeah, I got a kid.’” There was a potential that Galvan had to weigh in and compete, three days in a row, with two to three hours between weigh-ins and the fight itself. Galvan fought twice and won both times to secure a gold medal, the only American to do so. He now brings a 4-1-0 amateur record into Barcelona for an exhibition match, with two wins by way of knockout and two more by unanimous decision. Galvan says he’s a grappler at heart, but Baltazar says his striking is coming along well along with his jiu-jitsu to create a quality fighting style. “Controlled violence,” Baltazar said. “It’s not just wild, it’s technical and they hit hard and it’s an aggressive style.” It’s a style all his own, and something it seems Galvan has been destined to develop since he first gloved up years ago. “Everything he did that had to do with combat, it’s like you threw a fish in water,” Josh said. The hopes of hooking a professional contract turn closer and closer to reality as Galvan keeps on casting that line.

J U N E 23, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 17

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Egg Plantation 24415 Walnut Street, Newhall (661) 255-8222

L&L Hawaiian BBQ 18727 Via Princessa, Canyon Country (661) 251-8333

AMERICAN Backwoods Inn 17846 W. Sierra Highway, Canyon Country (661) 252-5522

Mama’s Table 23340 Cinema Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 284-5988

Lucille’s Bar-B-Que 24201 West Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 255-1227

Marston’s Restaurant 24011 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 253-9910

Q&Q Hawaiian BBQ 27530 Newhall Ranch Road #101, Santa Clarita (661) 383-9098

The Backyard Grub n’ Brews 26509 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (661) 286-1165

Nealie’s Skillet 25858 Tournament Road, Valencia (661) 678-0031

Bergie’s 16404 Delone Street, Canyon Country (661)251-3133

Newhall Refinery 24258 Main St, Newhall (661) 388-4477

Black Angus 27007 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 288-2000

Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Co 18810 Soledad Canyon Rd, Canyon Country (661) 252-7883

Black Bear Diner 23626 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 799-4820 Boston Market 26543 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (Saugus) (661) 297-4447 Brooklyn Bar & Grill 25860 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 284-6057 The Cheesecake Factory 24250 Town Center Dr #110, Valencia, CA 91355 (661) 286-1232

Red Robin 27063 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 260-2411

Salt Creek Grille 24415 Town Center Drive, Valencia (661) 222-9999

Crazy Otto’s Diner 25373 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 291-1733

Souplantation 24303 Town Center Drive, Valencia (661) 286-1260

The Daily Harvest Cafe & Juicery 22722 Lyons Ave #6, Newhall (661) 383-9387

Stonefire Grill 23300 Cinema Drive, Valencia (661)799-8282

Eat Real Cafe 23414 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 254-2237 27530 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 254-2237

The Old Town Junction 24275 Main Street Newhall (661) 702-4888

Lazy Dog Cafe 24201 Valencia Blvd., Valencia (661) 253-9996

Mama’s Table 23340 Cinema Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 284-5988 Marston’s Restaurant 24011 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 253-9910

Rattler’s BBQ 26495 Golden Valley Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-4195

Mimi’s Cafe 24201 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia (661) 255-5520

Smokehouse on Main 24255 Main St, Old Town Newhall (661) 888-4585

The Old Town Junction 24257 Main Street, Newhall (661) 702-4888 See DINING GUIDE, next page

Wood Ranch Bar-B-Que & Grill 25580 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 222-9494

Saddle Ranch Chop House 24201 Valencia Blvd., Valencia (661) 383-0173

Sizzler 19013 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (661) 250-7300

Islands 24180 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 284-5903

Halfway House 15564 W. Sierra Highway, Saugus (661) 251-0102

Route 66 Classic Grill 18730 Soledad Canyon Rd, Canyon Country (661) 298-1494

Claim Jumper 25740 The Old Road, Valencia (661) 254-2628

Iconic Eats 23460 Cinema Dr, Valencia (661) 481-9404

Eggs N Things 27560 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 702-8664

The Social 23329 Lyons Ave, Ste A, Valencia (661) 799-9155 Thelma’s Cafe 22876 Copperhill Drive, Saugus (661) 263-8283 Wing Stop 18547 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-9700

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18 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

DINING GUIDE

Continued from previous page

BREAKFAST & BRUNCH

J U N E 23, 2019

Jimmy Dean’s 22941 Lyons Ave, Newhall (661) 255-6315 JJ’s Bar and Grill 25848 Tournament Road, Valencia (661) 799-7557

Saugus Cafe 25861 Railroad Avenue, Saugus (661) 259-7886

Panini Palace 23120 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 678-0552

Way Station Coffee Shop 24377 Main Street, Newhall (661) 255-0222

Pita Pit 28253 Newhall Ranch Road (661) 702-9977

BREWERIES BJ’s Restaurant 24320 Town Center Drive, Valencia (661) 288-1299 Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Co. 18810 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 252-7883 Pocock Brewing Company 24907 Avenue Tibbits, Valencia (661) 775-4899 Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Co. 27746 N. McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 263-9653

BURGERS/SANDWICHES Bricks 23820 Lyons Ave, Newhall (661) 286-1091 Brother’s Burgers 20655 Soledad Canyon (661) 299-9278 Burgerim 23740 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 670-8939 Corner Bakery 24290 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 259-2813 Cousins Burgers 19318 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 298-4200 Everest Burgers 18645 Soledad Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 91351 (661) 252-3412 Final Score 23754 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 254-6557 Firehouse Subs 23630 Valencia Blvd. Valencia (661) 255-3473 Five Guys 24201 W, Valencia Blvd #3672, Valencia (661) 255-0981 Grilled Cheese Factory 24201 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 888-1508 The Habit 25948 N. McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 291-1575 Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069

Route 66 Classic Grill 18730 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 298-1494 Rustic Burger 24025 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 254-1300 Rustic Eatery 25343 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 254-8100 Submarina California Subs 26517 Carl Boyer Drive, Canyon Country (661) 259-4782 Tiny’s Submarine Sandwiches 27251 Camp Plenty Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-5885

CHINESE

China Express 19417 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-8783 Golden Wok Restaurant 16668 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 424-0888 Grand Panda 23802 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 253-1898 27924 Seco Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 297-9868 Mandarin Wong Chinese Restaurant 23758 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 259-5823 Moon Wok 23460 Cinema Drive Suite H, Valencia (661) 288-1898 New Moon 28281 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 257-4321 Pei Wei Asian Diner 24250 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 600-0132 Pick Up Stix 25960 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 288-2090 WaBa Grill 19120 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 367-7297 31739 Castaic Road, Castaic (661) 295 9222 Wok’s Cookin’ Chinese Restaurant 31565 Castaic Road, Castaic (661) 257-2890

CUBAN Hidden Havana Cuban Cafe 23548 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 254-4460

DELICATESSEN Bob’s Country Meats 19012 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-5995 Cathy’s Delicatessen 23120 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 288-2217 Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069 Maria’s Italian-American Deli 22620 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 259-6261 Mariciano’s Chicago Style Deli 18635 Soledad Canyon Road (661) 299-1100 The Sandwich Shop 25530 W. Avenue Stanford, Valencia (661) 257-4811

FRENCH Le Chene French Cuisine 12625 Sierra Highway, Agua Dulce (661) 251-4315

GREEK Gyromania 20655 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 252-4976

INDIAN An Indian Affaire 23360 W. Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 288-1200 Karma Restaurant, Bar & Lounge 23460 Cinema Drive, Valencia (661) 288-0080 Royal Tandoor 26532 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 263-7100

ITALIAN Bella Cucina Ristorante Italiano 27911 Seco Canyon Rd, Saugus (661) 263-1414 Buca di Beppo 26940 Theater Drive, Valencia (661) 253-1900 Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069 Maria’s Italian-American Deli 22620 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 259-6261 Numero Uno Pizza 26111 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 252-5011

Olive Garden 27003 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 799-8161 Piccola Trattoria 18302 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country (661) 299-6952 Presto Pasta 24375 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia (661) 284-7737 Spumoni Restaurant 24917 W. Pico Canyon Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 799-0360

JAPANESE & SUSHI Achita Sushi 22913 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 476-5522 Asako Sushi 27540 Sierra Hwy, Canyon Country (661) 251-6010 Bonsai Garden 19358 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-9008 Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Dining 27025 McBean Pkwy, Valencia (661) 254-2355 Hibiki Restaurant 27625 Shangri La Dr., Canyon Country (661) 298-0273 I Love Sushi 26526 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita 661-673-5200 Kabuki 24045 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 799-8655 Kisho Japanese Teppan Grill & Revolving Sushi Bar 23430 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 284-3856 Masa Ramen 27051 McBean Pkwy, #101, Valencia (661) 254-4229 My Hot Pot 26238 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 288-1998 Shogun Sushi Japanese Restaurant 26807 Seco Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 513-0015 Sushi 661 26850 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita (661) 252-9831 Sushi Song Japanese Restaurant 22896 Copper Hill Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 297-5659 Xevichez Sushi Bar 24250 Town Center Dr #180, Santa Clarita (661) 288-1477 Yamato Restaurant 24947 Pico Canyon Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 799-0707

J U N E 23, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 19

Traditional Italian food — made with love By Michelle Sathe Signal Staff Writer

ave you ever wished that you had an Italian grandmother that cooked for you? Well, that may not be possible, but Italia Panetteria and Deli comes very close. Walk inside and you’ll be warmly greeted by the friendly staff, who greet regulars by name. The scent of simmering marinara sauce and baking bread wafts in the air as you peruse the extensive menu of Italian classics, including pastas, sandwiches, soups, salads and much more. Whatever you choose, it’s been made with a lot of care and experience by owners John and Victoria Magnanimo. The duo met decades

KOREAN & MONGOLIAN Charcoal Korean BBQ Restaurant 19158 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-9292

ago at the original Italia Deli in Granada Hills, where they both worked as teenagers. The Magnanimos opened Italia in Valencia 10 years ago and the restaurant and deli has been bustling ever since. “Our bread is a big draw. We bake it fresh daily and make everything from scratch for the most authentic flavors,” Victoria Magnanimo said. That crusty, yet pillowy bread creates the foundation for a stellar Italia cold cut sandwich ($8.49 small / $13.49 large). Piled high with two kinds of imported salami, mortadella, provolone, juicy tomato, crisp lettuce and sharp onion, the sandwich is drizzled with a luscious homemade Italian dressing that ties the whole production together into a beautiful Grill Kabob 27653 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 263-7445 Kebab House 24201 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 799-5844

Genghis Khan 24506 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 254-0351

Manoushee Mediterranean Restaurant 27131 Sierra Hwy, Canyon Country (661) 251-6666

Gogi House 26524 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 263-0048

Olive Terrace Cafe 28261 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 257-7860

Kogiya 2 Korean BBQ 23410 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 678-0999

Zankou Chicken 24463 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia (661) 705-7265

Lee’s Korean BBQ & Tofu House 23360 West Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 254-2307 Sam’s Flaming Grill 24802 Orchard Village, Santa Clarita (661) 222-9060 19433 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 298-0115 25347 Wayne Mills Pl, Valencia (661) 254-2154 23874 Copper Hill Dr, Valencia (661) 294-1100 ZingGa Grill 26910 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita (661) 250-7592

MEDITERRANEAN Cafe O 20655 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 424-0401 Flame & Skewers 25870 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 799-7538

MEXICAN Azul Tequila 25387 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 254-5500 Cabo Cabana Restaurant 25710 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 222-7022 Casa Pasilla 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 295-1989 Dario’s Mexican Restaurant 24523 Newhall Avenue, Newhall (661) 255-6868 El Trocadero Mesquite Grill & Cantina 24274 Main Street, Newhall (661) 284-6615 La Cocina Bar & Grill 28022 Seco Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 297-4546 La Charrita Restaurant 24225 Main St, Newhall (661) 288-1204

Italia Panetteria’s pasta salad is added to a dish with one of their delicious cold cut sandwiches made with freshly baked bread. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

harmony of flavor and texture. There are more than a dozen hot or cold sandwiches to choose from, in-

cluding pastrami, eggplant or chicken parmigiana, and meatball or sausage,

Las Rocas Mexican Grill 27923 Sloan Canyon Road Castaic, CA 91384 (661) 257-6905

Pizza Di Marco 27674 Newhall Ranch Rd, Valencia 661-295-8769

Medrano’s Mexican Restaurant 19319 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 367-4945 Rosarito Grill 19425 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-2732 Solita Tacos & Margaritas 24201 Valencia Blvd., Suite 3470, Santa Clarita (661) 291-1399

PERSIAN Persia Lounge & Restaurant 24328 Main Street, Newhall (661) 259-4100

PIZZA Ameci Pizza & Pasta 28013 Seco Canyon, Santa Clarita (661) 296-6131 Chi Chi’s Pizza 27117 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country (661) 252-4405 23043 Soledad Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 259-4040 Magic Pizza SCV 26870 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 291-1921 Mama Mia Pizza 25708 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 286-9183 Numero Uno Pizza 26111 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 259-3895

See REVIEW, page 30

Pizza Rev 24341 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia (661) 260-1257 Tomato Joes Pizza & Taps 19167 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (661) 250-7550 Tomato Joes Pizza Express 27732 McBean Pkwy. Valencia (661) 263-8646 Toppers Pizza 23710 Valencia Blvd, Santa Clarita (805) 385-4444

POLISH Pierogi Spot 26511 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (661) 254-4850

THAI Life Thai Fusion 22911 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 259-9226 Mom Can Cook Thai Kitchen 18358 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-8103 Original Thai BBQ Restaurant 27530 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 257-6421 Siam Rice II 25845 Railroad Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 287-0099

20 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U N E 23, 2019

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

Get ready to shred at Canyon Santa Clarita By Perry Smith Sunday Signal Editor

he Canyon Santa Clarita is bringing in an architect of American metal right to our backyard for our enjoyment, from an artist with roots in the Santa Clarita Valley. Dokken has sold more than 10 million records since the band was

formed in 1979, noted as much for the shredding riffs of lead guitarist, George Lynch, as for the searing vocals of founder Don Dokken. Now fans of their catalogue, which includes hits like “Alone Again,” “In My Dreams” and “Burning Like a Flame,” can enjoy the music in an intimate, live venue. Lynch Mob was formed in 1989 when the original lineup of Dokken

stopped touring together, with its most commercially successful effort being “Wicked Sensation,” which charted not long after its 1990 release. The band followed with a number of popular metal tracks, including “Wicked Sensation,” “River Of Love” and “Dream Until Tomorrow.” The band is set to perform June 28 at The Canyon, with Kenny Shipman, a blues rock power trio, and

BlackVoid, which describes itself as an original hard rock and heavy metal band, scheduled as the opening acts. Find the Canyon Santa Clarita on the ground floor of the Westfield Valencia Town Center. Get tickets at the box office 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, by phone at (888) 645-5006, or via TicketMaster.com. For more info, visit WheremusicmeetstheSoul.com.

J U N E 23, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 1

‘Godzilla’ and ‘Echo In the Canyon’

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

By Dianne White Crawford Signal Contributing Write

“Godzilla”

General Release Do you like loud booms? Do you like big visual spectacles? Godzilla certainly delivers an audio and visual treat that can’t go unnoticed, but there are elements of the film that stand out for all the wrong reasons. Although I can appreciate that the film certainly delivers on the titanic battles and the “Godzilla” on-screen time moments, but the general takeaway from the film is somewhat of a ‘meh’ feeling purely due to what happens between those giant fighting spectacles. The pacing of the film is somewhat fast, which of course isn’t necessarily a bad thing when we all know that the real meat of the film lies in the main event. I would have really liked the film to have slowed down to explore the unique moral issues that they had decided to feature, but again I understand that this is mainly a monster film and such exploration of themes isn’t crucial to the film. The human characters mostly all fall flat, with the main father character being especially cringe worthy. A lot of the “experts” in the film (the scientists, military personnel) have been given comedic traits which often results in jokes that are completely out of place and consequently devoid of all humor. For example, during one point in the film they’re talking about the name of an ancient creature which is pretty significant, and due to not being able to understand the scientists accent, one of the comedic characters interprets the name as gonorrhea ... Now I understand that this is meant to be a film about giant monsters, but the performances provided by the human cast really are painful at times. Leaving the mostly terrible human cast issue aside, I have to give credit where credit is due, and that is in regards to the CGI, VFX and audio work. Although the CGI isn’t drastically different from the 2014 film, where it is noticeable is when the live footage of the humans is interwoven with the monsters trampling above them. It really was impressive to see the actors in the same scene as the

Buffalo Springfield in “Echo In the Canyon.”

“Godzilla.” PHOTOS COURTESY OF IMDB

monsters, with debris flying, and not really being able to tell that it’s all CGI … but that just may be the inner nerd in me paying too much attention to the details. The audio is really fantastic in terms of the sound effects and the overall mixing. The roars are loud, and the general sound of destruction has depth and impact. What’s nice is that there are a few moments of silence, and some choir-esque soundtracks to lift up bringing life and meaning to some scenes. I suppose my main issue with this film is tied to my initial expectations. The trailers showed something quite poetic and moving with its dramatic soundtrack and beautiful artistic aesthetic in terms of how the monsters were portrayed, but what you get is more of a generic monster movie, with some promising moments that never quite deliver anything meaningful or new. In general an excellent monster movie for its visual and audio effects alone, but sadly nothing new or inspiring to write home about.

“Echo In the Canyon”

Limited Release “Go Where You Wanna Go,” a catchy pop song by The Mamas and the Papas, always seemed a quintessential 1960s song, but now, thanks to an insightful interview with singer Michelle Phillips in this new documentary, it’s a reminder that even the era’s free love carried a price. Director

Andrew Slater, the former president of Capitol Records, combines the nostalgia associated with the California sound with the contemporary staying power of the songs and the musicians. Jakob Dylan of The Wallflowers (and Bob’s son) is really the face of the film. Not only does he conduct most of the many interviews, he’s also the driving force behind the 2015 concert at the Orpheum Theatre celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Byrds debut album … an album we are told kicked off the fusion of folk and rock. Dylan’s first interview is with the legendary Tom Petty (in one of his final interviews before his sudden death in 2017). The two are sitting in a guitar shop with Petty regaling the brilliance of a Rickenback, and how the music of 1965-67 influenced him as a songwriter and musician. An aerial view of Laurel Canyon accompanies its description as the antithesis of the plastic TV world of the 1960s. It was an area that attracted bohemians — musicians, artists and actors — and collaboration and community were the calling. Jackson Browne and Tom Petty both mention “cross-pollination” … the “borrowing” of ideas from each other, as it’s contrasted with outright theft. The concert at the Orpheum acts a bit as a framing device, and Jakob Dylan takes the lead and performs with other modern day acts such as Regina Spektor, Beck, Jade, Fiona Apple, Cat Power and Norah Jones. We cut to modern versions of the 60s classics after an interview with the

original artist or clip of the original band is played. It’s a way to connect the dots and show how the music still stands today. Those interviewed include Jackson Browne, music producer Lou Adler, David Crosby, Roger McGuinn, Michelle Phillips, Eric Clapton, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, John Sebastian and Ringo Starr. Each of these musical luminaries serves up a story or two, and takes a stab at defining the era and its influence. Roger McGuinn tells us how The Beatles influenced The Byrds, The Beach Boys “Pet Sounds” influenced “Sgt Pepper,” and how so many songs and bands are interlinked. Brian Wilson is compared to both Mozart and Bach, and Eric Clapton admits to taking a bit from Buffalo Springfield. We see and hear Wilson in the studio with Jakob Dylan, as well as Clapton riffing with Stills. It’s fascinating to listen as Wilson explains four different local studios were used to cut “Good Vibrations” because of the various sounds needed. A bit of artistic lunacy? Perhaps. But it makes for a great tale. It’s a bit odd to have clips of Jacques Demy’s “Model Shop,” starring Gary Lockwood and Anouk Aimee, interspersed throughout, but Dylan explains how the film inspired the concert and film. Lastly, we can’t help but chuckle since even Dylan couldn’t coax his notoriously reclusive father into providing even a touch of recollection for the project. “Expecting to Fly” is offered as the end of the era.

22 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U N E 23, 2019

THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR

ONGOING

= Family Friendly Event

As the types of food provided by the trucks change weekly, there are always different options to try. Tables and chairs are provided, and these events are handicap-accessible. 26573 Carl Boyer Drive, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/foodtrucksaturday/ Sundays, 2:30 p.m. Join The Open Book Canyon Country’s free storytime events for children ages 4-12 with stories, snacks and an awesome craft. The Open Book Canyon Country 19188 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country. Info: theopen book.biz/ Sunday, 7:30-9:30 a.m. Dragon boating has over 2,000 years of history behind it. The community is invited to Castaic’s lower lake to give dragon boating a try. All equipment and parking will be provided free. Guests 9 years old and up are welcome. Castaic Lake State Recreation Area, 32132 Castaic Lake Drive, Castaic. For more information, call 213-447-5707 or visit teamdragoneyes.my-free.website/ First Saturday of the month, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Flutterby is a nocharge open art studio for kids and their parents to stop by and make their own artwork to display. All art materials are provided and no prior registration necessary, as it’s free to the whole community. ARTree Community Arts Center, 22508 6th St., Newhall. Info: (661) 673-7500, http://theartree.org/events/

tangos, rags and jigs. Hart Hall at William S. Hart Regional Park, 24151 Newhall Ave., Newhall. Info: friendsofhartpark.com Monday, June 24, 6:30-9 p.m. Come to Pinot’s Palette for Makeup and Merlot with Mel and learn how to measure your eyebrows and learn what products are best for you. Learn how and why to use pomade, powder and brow pencils to make a natural or bold look. Bring your current brow products or send an email for a product consultation to get what you need. Ages 12 and up welcome. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Pinot’s Palette, 25850 McBean Pkwy, Valencia, Santa Clarita Info: wondermelbeauty@ gmail.com Wednesday, June 26, 6-8 p.m. The Santa Clarita Quilt Guild will host the “Quilts for All” exhibit, featuring quilts made by the guild’s members. Enjoy light appetizers, live music and meet the artists featured in the exhibition at the first floor gallery in City Hall. Santa Clarita City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita. Info: santaclaritaarts.com/2019/04/22/quilts-for-all/ Thursday, June 27, 7-9 p.m. Audiences to the music showcase Note by Note will be presented with a free evening of fun and a wide range of music styles including rock, folk, Celtic, Americana, blues, jazz, country, experimental, western and more. The MAIN, 24266 Main St., Newhall. Info: thursdaysatnewhall.com/notebynote/ EVENTS BY DATE Friday June 28, 8-11 p.m. Come Sunday, June 23, 7 p.m. Saxtravto Hart Park as Movies Under the Stars aganza, Santa Clarita’s all-saxophone presents a screening of “Ralph Breaks the Inensemble, will be playing a free concert for ternet.” Avenues Supported Living Services will its 20th anniversary event. The program will be selling snow cones, popcorn, candy and offer listeners a wide variety of musical styles, including classical, movie themes, marches, drinks for guests. Bring chairs, blankets and towels. William S. Hart Regional Park, 24151 Newhall Ave., Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/ events/701290216981539/ Saturday, June 29, 10 a.m. to www.jetworldpowersports.com CONGRATULATIONS to Christine Tilt for correctly 3 p.m. Invest in your local Santa identifying Ventura Harbor Village on page 19. Clarita Valley artists and crafters at the Identify this advertiser and the page number in this week’s SCV Summer Art Fair. There will be amazing issue, and you will be entered to win a $100 gift certificate for original art and crafts, Instagram art walls, art a local restaurant. installations, face painting, henna tattoos, carOne game and one winner each week. icatures, live painting, games and more. Mail your entry to The Signal – Contest Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa 26330 Diamond Place | Santa Clarita, CA 91350 Clarita. Info: tinyurl.com/scvsummerartfair Or email contest@signalscv.com Saturday, June 29, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advertiser: _____________________________ Page # ______ Come out to Wolf Creek Brewery and toss Name: _____________________________________________ bean bags playing cornhole while supportAddress: ___________________________________________ ing Saugus football. Prizes, raffles, food and vendors. $80 per two-player team. Phone: _____________________________________________ Wolf Creek Brewery, 25108 Rye Canyon Loop, This week’s entries are due Wed. July 3 Valencia, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/ Winner to be announced in 2 weeks. events/444991959581176/

Wednesdays, 6-10 p.m. Race on over to southern California’s largest weekly and family-friendly event, Bike Night at Route 66 Classic Grill Attendees will enjoy live music, raffle prizes, barbecue and drink specials. Route 66 Classic Grill 18730 Soledad Canyon Road., Canyon Country. Info: route66classicgrill.com/bike-night-route-66.php Fridays, 4 p.m. Cool off in the Forgotten Sea Wave Pool while a popular movie plays on a large screen above at Hurricane Harbor’s “Dive-In Movies.” The experience gives a unique opportunity to float in the water while the film plays. Screenings are free with park admission. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia. Info: For the lineup of movies and more, go to sixflags.com/hurr icaneharborla/special-events/dive-movies Fridays, 7:30-9:30 p.m. The Valencia Jazz & Blues Concert Series returns for its 20th year, featuring regional, national and international entertainers in a family-friendly, street party setting, offering activities for adults and children. The scheduled series will bring a variety of activities for the entire family, as well as a variety of food and beverages, including wine and beer for adults. No pets or outside food or beverages are allowed. Admission is free. Downtown Valencia on Town Center Drive, outside the Westfield Valencia Town Center. Info: For the lineup of performers, visit valenciajazzandblues.com/line-up/ Saturdays, 5-8 p.m. Rotating on a weekly basis, a group of gourmet food trucks gather together for Food Truck Saturdays to create community fun in the Santa Clarita Valley.

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WIN

! WIN

Saturday, June 29, 3-10 p.m. Join Harley Davidson of Santa Clarita for a free special screening of “Being Evel,” the real story behind the myth of American icon Robert ‘Evel’ Knievel and his legacy. Experience the film on the big screen under the beautiful Santa Clarita sky. Enjoy hot dogs and hamburgers, Firestone Walker 805 beer and a preshow of vintage footage and clips. The film begins at 8:30 p.m. Harley-Davidson of Santa Clarita, 21130 Centre Pointe Pkwy, Santa Clarita. Info: eventbrite. com/e/american-evel-exclusive-screening -of-being-evel-tickets-60653074980 Saturday, June 29, 6-10 p.m. Thirty years already? It’s that time. The Hart High School Class of 1989 is having a reunion at Wolf Creek Brewery. The price of admission includes delicious Wolf Creek appetizers (no need to sit down and miss an opportunity to mingle), one drink ticket (of course, you’re welcome to order additional drinks), desserts and a fun DJ to take you back to the 80s. $55. Wolf Creek Brewery, 25108 Rye Canyon Loop, Santa Clarita Info: eventbrite.com/e/hart-high-school-class-of1989-reunion-tickets-54669734648 Saturday, June 29, 7-9 p.m. The Geek Girls are busting out the Perler Beads and letting you craft your heart out. You can make as much as you can while you are there, including awesome magnets, keychains, and Christmas ornaments, or add them to paper clips for some office fun. Members pay $5 materials fee, non-members pay $10 meeting fee and $5 materials fee. 24509 Walnut St., Ste. 203, Santa Clarita. Info: geekgirlsforever.com Saturday, June 29, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Based on the 3 pillars “move,”“learn” and “discover,” the National Olympic Committee organizes an annual Olympic Day throughout the world where in they promote sports, cultural and educational activities. The City of Santa Clarita and SCV Archery is proud to be an official host of a 2019 Olympic Day. Please bring your picnic supplies, chairs, shade and binoculars. Recurve, compound bows, barebows allowed. We will supply equipment for everyone who wants to try. Santa Clarita Archery Range, Haskell Canyon Open Space, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/events/666115590497307/ Monday, July 1, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sign your child up with GlowHouse Gaming’s Youth eSports Summer Camp, the first in Santa Clarita. Have your young gamer learn the tricks of the trade to become a top streamer or the next eSports entrepreneur. $225. 25061 Ave. Stanford, Ste. 40, Santa Clarita. Info: glowhousegaming.com

J U N E 23, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 3

K I D S & FA M I LY

Michele makes … summer snacks By Michele Buttelman Sunday Signal Writer

he kids are out of school, the weather is warming up, what’s easy and fun to make if you want to just a nibble between meals?

Avocado Toast

Great for a light breakfast, or a between meal snack, Avocado Toast is one of the new “healthy” snacks people are taste-testing. There are many ways to customize avocado toast to suit individual palates, too. Basic Avocado Toast The key to tasty avocado toast is the bread. Choose a good quality bread. I prefer either French bread or a hearty multi-grain bread. For every two slices of toasted bread, mash up one avocado and add 1 tbsp. olive oil and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Add salt and pepper to taste. A few bits of diced red onion sprinkled on top, along with a few capers, as well as another drizzle of olive oil and you have a quick and easy snack.

Avocado toast with bacon

3. Chips & Salsa Avocado Toast Drizzle salsa over your avocado toast, then top with crushed tortilla chips. 4. Eggy Avocado Toast Put a soft-boiled or poached egg atop your avocado toast and enjoy the ooey, gooey yolk as it runs over the top. 5. Caprese Avocado Toast Chopped cherry tomatoes and shreds of fresh basil. Dust with salt and black pepper.

Fancy Avocado Toast

Eggy avocado toast

Ridiculous No-Bake Granola Bars Smoky almond avocado toast

There are as many ways to personalize your avocado toast as there are kitchens in the Santa Clarita Valley. Here are just a few ideas to add to your Basic Avocado Toast recipe: 1. Smoky Almond Avocado Toast Top your avocado toast with chopped smoked almonds and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. 2. Bacon Goat Cheese Avocado Toast Crumble up some crisp bacon with a few slices or crumbles of goat cheese.

2 1/2 1/2 1/4 1/2 2 2 1/2

cups old fashioned oats cup shredded coconut cup chopped walnuts cup brown sugar cup agave tbsp. coconut oil tsp. vanilla extract tsp. salt Dark chocolate chips Nutella Spray an 8" x 8" dish with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 325F. Spread oats, coconut and walnuts on a baking sheet. Place in the oven and toast for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Watch carefully so See SNACKS, next page

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J U N E 23, 2019

K I D S & FA M I LY

Best boutiques to find a gift for any occasion By Kirsten Smith Signal Staff Writer

inding the perfect gift is a skill that can strengthen relationships, make a difference in someone’s day or create memories that last a lifetime. Yet not everyone has that special knack for finding the perfect gift. Whether it’s a birthday, wedding shower or housewarming party, the small boutiques in Santa Clarita are goldmines of thoughtful, unique gifts that are sure to impress for any occasion. Most handpick their wares, and one local shop sells products made in the store. The locals who run these shops have their fingers on the pulse of the community, with product lines that are locally influenced, and they are excellent sources to learn about local trends. So next time you need that perfect gift for a special someone, check out

SNACKS

Continued from previous page

they don’t burn. Combine the brown sugar, agave, coconut oil, vanilla and salt in a saucepan and cook over medium heat until the brown sugar dissolves. Pour toasted oat mixture into saucepan with brown sugar mixture and stir together until coated and combined. Pour into baking dish and press down so it’s even on top and compact. Let cool completely. Melt dark chocolate chips in a small bowl. Stir and then add in a couple tablespoons of Nutella. Drizzle on top. Cut into bars.

Strawberry/Peach Fruit Bruschetta 1 10 3 2

loaf French bread cut into thin slices strawberries small diced peaches small diced tbsp. raspberry white balsamic vinegar or regular balsamic vinegar 1 cup fresh chiffonade (ribbons) of mint leaves Goat cheese crumbles Preheat oven to 350F. Place French

one of these Santa Clarita boutiques to see what you can find.

Propinquities

24417 Walnut St, Newhall (661) 255-0229 Propinquities has been a popular boutique that many local women swear by for about 20 years. You can find women’s fashion and jewelry, as well as home decor and unique gift ideas. If you’re shopping for a woman in your life, this is a one-stop shop. Plus, it’s located next door to Egg Plantation — Soapish owner Tania Vivian makes a full line of and close to many other lotions, bath soaks, scrubs, oils and more. PHOTO BY Newhall restaurants — so DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL you can shop while waiting to be seated! This is the perfect stop By Invitation Only for the busy woman who needs an 24262 Walnut St #4, Newhall impressive, unique gift with little (661) 388-5699 time to shop. A family-owned and operated boutique in Newhall, By Invitation Only offers custom and high-end cards, invitations and paper goods, as well bread on a baking sheet and bake for as other gifts and trinkets. 8-10 minutes until fully toasted. If you’re looking for the perfect Combine strawberries, peaches, card to complement your thoughtmint and balsamic. Using a slotted ful gift, you can create your own or spoon, put fruit mixture on each choose from the shop’s full invenpiece of French bread. Crumble goat tory. You can also find specialty gift cheese on top of each bruschetta. wrapping, ribbon and other finishing Variation Substitute basil for mint touches. and Feta cheese for goat cheese. If you’re really aiming to please, stop by By Invitation Only and talk Frozen Fruit Bark to owner Kate Clancy, an expert in 1 large 32oz. container of vanilla yogurt invitation etiquette and design. 2 cups chopped fruit Mix together any combination Soapish of strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, 24353 Main St, Newhall raspberries, blackberries, cherries, (661) 753-3540 pineapple and peaches. If you’re looking for the type of gift Optional Semi-sweet chocolate that suits anyone for any occasion, chips, pretzel pieces, nuts and/or then Soapish is your first stop. coconut. The shop owner, Tania Vivian, Other flavors of yogurt can be hand pours each beautiful bar in used as well, lemon, strawberry or the back of the store, where she also chocolate. makes a full line of lotions, bath Line a large baking sheet with soaks, scrubs, oils and more, as well parchment paper. as specialty items like bath bombs Pour the yogurt onto the baking and shampoo bars. sheet and spread until even. With scents like Eucalyptus Mint, Sprinkle on the chopped fruit you can even find something com(and other tasty bits) and freeze for forting for those men who are hard to 3-4 hours until frozen solid. Cut shop for. or break into pieces. Store uneaten Custom orders and gift boxes with pieces in the freezer. the shop’s most popular scents make

shopping at Soapish even easier.

Ma Maison

24261 1/2 Main St, Newhall (661) 799-7983 When it comes to home goods and quirky gifts, Ma Maison offers a wide range inside its cozy storefront on Main Street in Newhall. Home and garden decor is the shop’s real claim to fame, but you can also find artisan tea, bath and body products, and jewelry. The shop carries a line of Mud Pie serving ware that’s always a crowd pleaser, and you can never go wrong with a handpoured soy candle. This is an excellent stop for anything bridal, as they carry wedding-themed frames and decor that make shower shopping quick and easy.

Dolled Up Fashions

25379 Wayne Mills Pl, Santa Clarita (661) 284-7515 Owned by two local sisters, Danyale Peterson and Danette Spiers, Dolled Up Fashions is a great place to shop for women’s fashion, especially if the person you’re gifting is in her 20s or 30s. While any woman can find something she loves at Dolled Up, it’s on trend for younger women who like comfort as much as they like keeping up with current styles. Their handmade jewelry, bridal gifts, sunglasses and bags are hard to pass up, as well. And if you’re not sure what to get for your special someone, the owners provide personalized service to help you find the perfect gift.

HER

27021 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 287-4437 Another option for expertly ontrend women’s clothing and accessories, HER Boutique in Valencia is stocked with floral print dresses, embellished tops and the shoes to match. If you need a little help putting styles together to make a complete outfit, HER is designed to inspire complete looks from head to toe. Different parts of the store showcase different outfits and ways to dress them up or down, as well as the appropriate accessories. While HER has a broad range of styles for women of all ages, it’s particularly popular with the younger crowd.

J U N E 23, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 5

K I D S & FA M I LY

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun

It’s ‘Lemonade Stand’ season By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer

en-year-old Josh and his 7-year-old sister Naomi might have the best lemonade stand going in their small town situated over the hill from Silicon Valley, California. It all started when their mom asked, “Where does money come from?” When they answered, “from birthday presents and the bank,” their mom and English teacher Ingrid Adams responded with an emphatic: “No! Money comes from work!” That was the moment she realized she had work to do in order to change their perspective on money. That motivation was the spark to fire up the kids this to become mini entrepreneurs in a way that made sense to them: the time-honored tradition of setting up a humble lemonade stand. Ingrid knew the cardinal rule of

good business. Location, location, location. The front stoop of their townhouse is on a fairly busy street, where families drive to and from community soccer fields, a popular dog park and a weekend farmer’s market. It would likely attract throngs of thirsty families on a hot day. The first step: Investors in this American kind of entrepreneurship. Ingrid footed the bill and made it clear she was saving the receipts for reimbursement in this business plan: $12 for grocery store lemonade and $11 from the local dollar store for cups, pitchers and poster board for the sign. Their grandmother lent them her TV tray for a table. Holding a sign, waving it back and forth, Josh attracted attention to the “drive-up” stand. SUVs and minivans stopped as Naomi poured the lemonade and Josh delivered it curbside to adults and thirsty kids in car seats in the back. (Ingrid kept a watchful eye

close by). Always with a kind “thanks for your business, and have a great day” comment, the neighborhood customers consistently said “keep the change!” as they pulled away. “That didn’t encourage math skills, because they didn’t have to calculate change,” says Ingrid, “but it helped the bottom line.” I’d invest in Josh and Naomi! In fact, who knows, this summer, they may be imagining a franchise and creating a “Find the Closest Lemonade Stand” app for our phones. Nostalgic traditions with modern technology! As the mercury rises, watch for lemonade stands popping up where you live. If you approach one of these businesses operated by cheerful kids, do stop. You’ll quench your thirst, and be applauding their enthusiasm and good work with your support. Donna Erickson’s award-winning

Joshua and his sister Naomi at their “drive-up” lemonade stand in front of the stoop of their townhouse.

series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.” ©2019 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.

Sanitizing hard-to-clean items in your kid’s rooms

Gubler shares helpful tips for sanitizing and repairing your child’s favorite stuffed animals at her blog, Vintage Revivals. Gubler recommends using Lysol Laundry Sanitizer, a one-of-a-kind product that’s safe to use on washable fabric items. It kills 99.9 percent of the bacteria that regular detergents may leave behind. Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the fabric softener compartment, following product directions, to help eliminate bacteria. Wash toys on the gentle cycle, and be careful not to launder toys with batteries.

very parent knows that keeping kids’ rooms — and their stuff — sanitary can seem like a losing battle. Between the playdates, trips to the park and going back-and-forth from school to home, parents worry not just about the dirt, but also the potentially bacteria on all the toys, clothes and bedding in their children’s rooms. Here are some tips for sanitizing common, tough-to-clean items in your kids’ rooms.

Baby’s plastic toys

Babies put everything in their mouths. For the plastic toys your baby loves to carry, mouth and drop, frequent cleaning is essential. For all- plastic toys, with no other materials, you could just soak and wash them in hot soapy water, rinsing well and air drying. But to sanitize them, go a step further — put them through the dishwasher. Use the silverware holder or tie into a mesh bag to wash them on the gentlest cycle, then let them air dry. You may also want to wash plastic bathtub toys. Distilled white vinegar

diluted with water helps inhibit mold and mildew growth.

Stuffed animals

If your child has a favorite stuffed toy, you know how hard it is to convince your child to part with it for a spin in the washing machine. But it’s worth it to know that the stuffed toy they spend all their time with has been sanitized. You may want to check the toy for rips or holes, so no stuffing falls out in the wash. DIY expert Mandi

Bedding

Wash bedding in hot water for the best results, although it’s a good idea to check care labels for warnings about water temperature, especially the first time you wash anything. Mattress pads, however, should be washed in warm water.

Shoes

You can even wash children’s sneakers in the washing machine. If you remove the shoelaces and soles, you can then wash the shoes in a mesh

bag to launder using cold water. It’s probably a good idea to use the gentle cycle and then allow shoes to air dry rather than putting them in the dryer.

Athletic wear

If you have kids in sports, you know how dirty athletic-wear items can get, and how it seems like the odors never quite go away. The odor molecules caused by bacteria can become trapped in the synthetic fabrics of most athletic wear, so it’s best to eliminate the odors at the source. Traditional fabric softeners and dryer sheets just mask odors, but Lysol Laundry Sanitizer Sport is suitable for most athletic-wear fabric, leaving it smelling fresh and clean. Be sure to follow specific care instructions about drying athletic-wear items. There’s no need to surrender in the battle against dirt and bacteria living in your children’s toys, bedding and clothing. Set a regular schedule for washing and sanitizing these tough items to help freshen up your child’s bedroom and keep it looking and smelling cleaner. — Brandpoint

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J U N E 23, 2019

FOOD

Historic eateries around the Santa Clarita Valley By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

hen my husband and I first moved to the Santa Clarita Valley in 1978 we quickly adopted Cal Islands as our “special occasion” restaurant. It was a magical place with fish tanks, a water wheel, bunnies munching on the lawn outside the restaurant windows and an exceptional salad bar. I always ordered the stuffed red snapper. Sadly, in the early 2000s, Cal Islands was closed and bulldozed. A shopping center and gas station now sit in its place. So many of the restaurants I knew and loved, Tony Roma’s (now Mimi’s Cafe), Blue Moon (bulldozed), TimTom’s (now Burrito Factory) and Tip’s, are all gone. Tragically Big Oaks Lodge burned to the ground Aug. 11, 2018. However, a surprising number of “historic” SCV eateries remain. Make a date with history and sample the fare at any of these remaining landmarks.

The Original Saugus Cafe

25861 Railroad Ave., Santa Clarita, 91350 Established: Between 1888-1890 Info http://the-original-saugus-cafe. cafes-usa.com The oldest eatery in Los Angeles County makes excellent eggs benedict. The burgers and fries are pretty good, too. The restaurant was originally named Tolfree’s Eating House and was located across the street, next to the Saugus train depot, at the southeast corner of Railroad Avenue and Drayton Street. The restaurant moved across the street in 1905 and to its current location in 1952. President Theodore Roosevelt stopped by in May of 1903, dining on a special New York steak. Hollywood legends who have reportedly visited the Saugus Café include Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, Tom Mix, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, John Ford, D.W. Griffith, Harry Carey, Hoot Gibson and

Left: The Backwoods Inn has been used for location shoots for “Starsky & Hutch,” “The Profiler” and “Criminal Minds,” among others. Right: A few years ago, it seemed as if the Halfway House was in half of the commercials and shows on the air. One of its most famous appears was in the 2014 Geico motorcycle insurance commercial. PHOTOS BY MICHELE E. BUTTELMAN / THE SIGNAL

William S. Hart. The cast of CSI, as well as Drew Barrymore and Whoopi Goldberg, have filmed here. Marlene Dietrich filmed “Seven Sinners” (1938), behind the restaurant. For more history of the Saugus Café visit https://scvhistory.com/scv history/hg5701.htm

The Rock Inn

17539 Elizabeth Lake Road, Lake Hughes, 93532 Established: 1929 Info www.historicrockinn.com Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The burgers are excellent, as is the live entertainment. Constructed from rock quarried in the Lake Hughes area in 1929 and named the Lake Hughes Trading Post, it served as store, post office and hotel. For more information on the history visit https://scvhistory.com/scv history/lw2391a.htm

Halfway House Cafe

15564 Sierra Highway, Saugus, 91390 Established: 1931 Info http://www.thehalfwayhouse cafe.com Try Halfway’s Special Chicken Salad or the Western Bacon Cheeseburger. The Halfway House Cafe got its name from its location halfway be-

tween Los Angeles and Palmdale. It began as a trading post in 1906. The restaurant was established in 1931. A popular filming location since the 1930s Clint Eastwood filmed a scene here for “Heartbreak Ridge” (1986). Just a few years ago it seemed that the Halfway House Cafe was in half the commercials and television shows on the air. Credits include: “Heroes,” “Melrose Place,” “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” “Numbers,” “CSI,” “ER,” “The King of Queens,” “Sons of Anarchy,” “Diagnosis Murder,” “Monk,” “Space Cowboys,” “Lost in America,” Waitress,” “The Twilight Zone,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and “Every Which Way But Loose.” Among the cafe’s most famous commercial appearances are the 2014 Geico Motorcycle Insurance “Diner” commercial and the iconic 1991 Pepsi commercial featuring Cindy Crawford. For more history about the Halfway House Café visit http://archive. signalscv.com/archives/19445

Le Chene French Cuisine

12625 Sierra Highway, Agua Dulce, 91390 Established: 1980 Info https://lechene.com While Le Chene is merely celebrating its 39th anniversary, the building

that houses the charming French restaurant has a wonderful history that dates back to 1923 when the owners of The Oaks Garage (established 1917) hired a contractor (using a horse and wagon) to haul river stones from Big Rock Creek, south of Pearblossom to construct a café. The trip took two days to complete in each direction. The stones gave the building a castle-like appearance. Postcards of the time refer to it as the Castle Oaks Garage and Café. In the 1950s it was a destination for celebrities including Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy) and Jane Wyman. Mickey Cohan, the crime boss, was said to have conducted business while dining at The Oaks Cafe. Clark Gable would park his motorbike out front while he ate. Current owner Juan Alonso purchased the building in 1981 and made improvements including landscaping that included a wooden waterwheel and lush foliage to create a romantic restaurant escape. For more information on the history of Le Chene and The Oaks Garage visit https://scvhistory.com/scv history/ja1601.htm See EATERIES, page 30

J U N E 23, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 7

Learn about our neighbor to the north: Canada

er of maple products, accounting for 71% of the global market. Mostly found in French-Canadian Canada, “tire d’érable,” or maple taffy, is a sugary-sweet candy prepared by pouring boiling maple syrup over snow, where the cold causes it to immediately harden. Roll it up on a popsicle stick and enjoy. If you are craving junk food, try some ketchup-, or dill pickle-flavored potato chips. Hickory sticks are another favorite crispy, and uniquely Canadian, snack food. Butter tarts are a simple, but common dessert in Canada. Help your children make their own Butter Tarts with this simple recipe.

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

anada, our neighbor to the north. It’s just like the United States, right? Except with stranger money. Well, not exactly. Many visitors are surprised when they get to Canada that many things are not at all like you’ll find in the “states.” To teach your children about Canada first, find the country on a map, or a globe. From the Santa Clarita Valley, Vancouver, British Columbia is 1,279 miles away. You can drive there in about 20 hours. Ottawa, the capital of Canada, is 2,843 miles away. It would take 42 hours of driving to reach Ottawa from the SCV.

Facts about Canada

Canada is the second largest country in the world. Only Russia has a larger land area. Canada’s total area measures 3,854,844 square miles. The United States is close behind at third largest with 3,797,000 square miles. Canada is the most educated country in the world. At least 56% of the total population has earned a post-secondary degree after high school, 6% more people than second-place Japan. The United States ranks sixth. Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world, combined. There are 3 million lakes in Canada. And, it is home to 20% of the world’s fresh water. Not surprisingly, Canada has the world’s longest coastline at 164,988 miles. If you walk non-stop around the Canadian coastline, it would take about 4.5 years. Hockey and lacrosse are Canada’s national sports. Because of the lengthy Canadian winters, skiing, skating, curling and other winter sports and activities are very popular. Ogopogo, similar to the Loch Ness Monster of Scotland, is a mythical creature living in Okanagan Lake, British Columbia. The Canadian flag features a red maple leaf on a field of white with red bars on either end. Wheat is the most important cultivated crop produced in Canada, with nearly 50% of it grown in the province of Saskatchewan. Canada converted to the metric system in 1970. The temperature

T R AV E L

Quebec City, located on the Saint Lawrence River in the French-speaking Quebec province, is considered one of the most beautiful cities in North America.

is measured in Celsius, distance in kilometers, speed in kilometers per hour, volume in liters and weight in kilograms. Canada celebrates Canada Day (July 1), Victoria Day (May 20), Family Day (Feb. 18), Civic Holiday (Aug. 5) and Boxing Day (Dec. 26). They also celebrate Christmas, New Year’s, Labour Day, Thanksgiving (Oct. 14) and Remembrance Day (Nov. 11). Not all holidays are national, some are celebrated only by certain provinces.

Government

Canada is made up of 10 provinces and three territories. The provinces are Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan. The territories are the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon. It has a parliamentary system and a constitutional monarchy. The present queen of Canada is Elizabeth II, also the queen of the United Kingdom. However, the Statute of Westminster 1931 granted full autonomy to Canada, and the Constitution Act of 1982 ended all legislative ties to the United Kingdom.

Speaking French

Montreal is the second-largest French-speaking city in the world,

after Paris. Although Canada is a predominantly English-speaking country, the 2016 census found French is the native language of 7.2 million Canadians, about 20 percent of the population. Most native French-speakers live in Quebec, where it is the official language. French settlement was established in eastern Canada by the early 17th century. Port Royal was founded in Acadia in 1605 and Quebec City in 1608. French Canada fell to the British in the 18th century. Today, the country has embraced a bilingual English/French culture with French taught to students in all schools, and public signage and commercially produced products labeled in both English and French.

Famous food

When in Canada make sure you try “poutine.” It is crispy fries, squeaky cheese curds and rich gravy. This French-Canadian food is found everywhere in Canada and can be considered the “national dish.” It can even be found on the menu at every Canadian McDonalds. Maple syrup has been produced in Canada for as long as people have lived on the land. The native population taught settlers how to make maple syrup. As such, Canada is the world’s leading producer and export-

12 (3 inch) unbaked tart shells (can be found in the frozen food case) 3/4 cup raisins 1/4 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup maple syrup 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1/4 tsp. salt 1 egg, lightly beaten 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, or to taste Preheat oven to 425F. Place tart shells on a baking sheet; sprinkle raisins evenly into the bottom of each tart shell. Whisk together butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla extract and salt in a bowl; whisk in egg. Pour into tart shells; sprinkle tarts with walnuts. Bake until pastry is light brown and filling is bubbly, about 12 minutes. Cool.

Wildlife

Moose are found across Canada, in every province and territory except for Prince Edward Island. The country is also home to the world’s largest population of wild bears, including polar, black, grizzly and Kermode bears. From humpbacks to blue whales and orcas, Canada is the perfect whale-watching destination. Catch a glimpse of some of the 20,000 grey whales as they travel from the Baja Peninsula to Alaska. Canada geese migrate between Canada and points south, including California. During the fall you can see them flying overhead in a signature “V” formation heading to warmer climates. They head back north in the spring.

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J U N E 23, 2019

H E A LT H

To Your Good Health

Mail-order meds, limited use of hands By Keith Roach, M.D. Signal Contributing Writer

Summer sun bakes mail-order meds

I get all of my medicine by mail. Since the manufacturers stress keeping the pills at cool room temperatures, I wonder what the excessive heat does to them. The medicine must cook all day in the mailbox — way over 100 degrees. I wonder how much the pills or liquids are deteriorating, and how the effectiveness is influenced. — F.N.

ANSWER: You are right to be concerned. All medicines should be stored in a cool and dark place, as direct sunlight and heat can

damage their effectiveness. Hormones, such as oral contraceptive pills, thyroid hormone and insulin, are among the most sensitive. Nitroglycerine is as well. Although some are shipped in packaging with cold packs and insulation, that’s not always the case. I recommend using a local pharmacy, but many people have prescription plans that require them to use mail order. If that’s the case for you, try to make sure the medicine will be delivered when you are available to receive it. If you have a temperature-sensitive medicine, such as the ones I mention above (ask your pharmacist about others), ask your mail-order pharmacy to send it in special packaging during warm-weather months. I am a 68-year-old male. I had triple bypass surgery two years ago. Post-surgery complications included diabetes, pneumonia and renal failure. I spent approximately three months in intensive care. After discharge I started physical therapy, as my arms and hands had atrophied. I am still doing therapy, but continue to have limited use of my arms and

Valencia Allergy and Asthma Center

hands (I cannot curl my hands without force). Any insight you have as to why I am unable to use my hands would be appreciated. — C.M.

ANSWER: Muscle weakness is common after an ICU stay (it’s seen in more than 25 percent of patients), due to several separate causes. Prolonged immobility can lead to weakness, atrophy and even contractures (involuntary bending at certain joints, such as the elbow and ankle). Both critical illness myopathy (affecting muscles; it’s common in people who received steroids, like prednisone) and critical illness polyneuropathy (affecting nerves; it’s common in people with severe infection, like sepsis) can lead to weakness and atrophy. Medications are sometimes needed to paralyze muscles in surgery or in critical illnesses, and these can have long-lasting side effects, including weakness. Malnutrition is common in ICU patients, not because ICU doctors and nurses don’t know to or don’t want to feed patients, but because the body may be unable to absorb necessary nutrients. Some or all of

these may combine to leave lasting physical effects from a long ICU stay. Physical and occupational rehabilitation services are the key to the recovery of function. Return of physical strength is slow and may be incomplete, so it may be necessary to use aids and to learn new ways to perform tasks. It has been my repeated experience that almost everyone can benefit from therapy, and patients who work harder, are more driven and are more optimistic tend to have the best results. Although most benefit is seen in the first year after loss of function, you still may continue to improve with therapy, perhaps utilizing different modalities. Definitely seek an occupational therapist if you haven’t already.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu. ©2019 North America Synd., Inc.

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S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 9

HOMEIMRPOVEMENT

Contractor versus handyman for gas line By Robert Lamoureux Signal Contributing Writer

Contractor vs. handyman Robert, I am a property manager of an association that insists on using a handyman. I’m hoping that your reply in this column will help them to understand the importance of using the right contractor for the job, especially when safety is involved. They have a three-quarter-inch gas line that is feeding both the heater for the gym, as well as a hot water heater tank. They want to add a dryer this same feed line and though I’m not a contractor, I’ve had personal experience with such an issue and I truly believe that this line needs to be increased so that all items connected to it will receive enough gas, if all running at the same time. I correlate it with trying to get enough water to three different fixtures, with a tiny little pipe. Gas is the same, right? Can you please clarify if this concern is correct, why it is so and what can happen if it isn’t done correctly? A couple of the people on the Board disagree and feel that because all three won’t ever be run at the same time, it will be ok.

I have to be sure that all concerns are cleared up so that I protect myself and my company, in case they move forward and do this anyway. Can this cause a fire? — Rita S. Rita, You are absolutely right with your thinking, on all aspects. Contractors/inspectors never make calculations based on what may never happen. All calculations are based on assuming that the worst case scenario will happen, therefore these things are set up for success in the most difficult circumstances. Even in this situation if 99.9 percent of the time not all three items are run at the same time, there is still that small percentage of chance that there will be a time that all three are operating at the same time, and the system needs to be sufficient to safely and adequately provide service to all. If the line is starved, meaning if it is being asked to provide more gas than it is able, then you’ll get what we call “sooting.” This is a black discharge that is created from the service not running efficiently. If you get enough buildup of sooting then it acts like carbon and begins to stick within the interior of the appliance mechanics. In the right condition this will catch fire and create a very dangerous situation.

Few things beat summer heat better than walking into a comfortably chilled air conditioned home. Air conditioning is often taken for granted, but sorely missed when it is not working. The key to keeping cool all summer long is to ensure that air conditioning systems are functioning properly. Maintaining an AC unit can save money and protect homeowners’ investments. Without regular attention, an AC unit will lose its efficiency, needlessly wasting both energy and money as a result. Poor maintenance also can lead to system failure just when it is needed most. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average lifespan of an air conditioning unit is about 15 to 20 years. Home Advisor says homeowners can pay between $500 and $4,000 for central air conditioning, with the final cost depending on the unit, additional installation items, such as ductwork, and installation charges. With regular maintenance, homeowners can keep their units humming properly and avoid premature replacement costs. — Metro Connection

If the line is starved you’ll get a black discharge called sooting that is created from the service not running efficiently. If you get enough buildup of sooting it could catch fire and create a very dangerous situation. PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

All appliances that require gas are to be utilized with a correct sized gas line that is in place for the size/qty/ type of appliances that will be requiring gas from it. I would strongly urge that this board go to a licensed and insured plumber that will do the calculations on what will possibly be used (a good plumber will assume that all appliances will be used at once, and calculate for that situation), and will upgrade this line to one that will adequately service all. Be sure that permits are pulled, and let the city inspectors come out to put their stamp of approval on it, that way everyone is that much more protected. They’ll do a standing test which is to cap both ends of the gas line, attach a gauge and then fill it up with about 17 lbs of pressure. This line will

need to hold the pressure for about 24 hours, which will prove that the line is sealed and safe, with no leaks. The inspector will sign off and then it will be able to be connected fully. Good luck to them, and to you in your job, — Robert Robert Lamoureux has 38 years of experience as a general contractor, with licenses in electrical and plumbing contracting. He owns IMS Construction Inc. in Valencia. His opinions are his own, not necessarily those of The Signal. Opinions expressed in this column are not meant to replace the recommendations of a qualified contractor after that contractor has made a thorough visual inspection. Email questions to robert@imsconstruction.com.

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J U N E 23, 2019

FOOD

EATERIES

Continued from page 26

Chi Chi’s Pizza

23043 Soledad Canyon Road, Saugus, 91350 and 27117 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country, 91387 Established: 1967 in SCV Info www.chichispizza.com Chi Chi’s Pizza is much more than pizza. The restaurant offers pasta, sandwiches, seafood and more. Try the restaurant’s signature “Our Famous Golden Pressure Fried Chicken,” a best-seller at the Saugus location. Order the sourdough rolls. Trust me, you won’t regret it, but you might find you have a new dining addiction. Frank Paul Miccolis, a first-generation Italian-American, opened his first Chi Chi’s restaurant in Panorama City in 1958. In less than a decade he opened other locations in Saugus and Simi Valley. The Canyon Country location opened in 2000.

REVIEW

Continued from page 19

all of which can be made into two- to six-foot, party-perfect subs that are tasty down to the last bite. “I’m a real stickler for having all the fillings go end to end. No one wants a bite of nothing,” Victoria Magnanimo said. Italia’s meats are ground in-house for the sausage and meatballs, which can be ordered with pasta and a delicious, perfectly balanced marinara sauce ($8.99). The excellent

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The Rock Inn was built from rock quarried in the Lake Hughes area. Completed in 1929, it was originally known as the Lake Hughes Trading Post. PHOTO COURTESY SCVHISTORY.COM

The chain, now 61 years old, is run by the founder’s son, Paul Miccolis. When Chi Chi’s opened in Saugus there were few homes, just onion fields. However, the master planned community of Valencia was underway and tracks of new homes, soon followed.

For more history visit www.chichis pizza.com/our-story

lasagna ($9.99), a dense slab of many layers of tender pasta, is stuffed with a savory mixture of meatballs and sausage, creamy ricotta cheese, and topped with that awesome sauce plus a sprinkling of parmesan. A generous piece of crunchy, golden brown of garlic bread also comes with each pasta order. Looking for something a bit lighter? Italia has six salad options ($4.99 to $13.99) from a fabulous antipasto (which is like the Italia cold cut sub sans bread) to a Greek with lots of chunky feta and a Caesar boasting homemade croutons. The Caprese

($7.99 to $13.99) is an ode to summer: succulent slices of vibrant tomatoes layered with a moist, milky fresh mozzarella, then topped with a sweet balsamic glaze and little ribbons of bright basil. Underneath, there’s a thin layer of pesto, which adds a surprising yet welcome bit of extra umami to the mix. A roster of homemade soups ($4.59 pint/$7.99 quart) are also available daily, with lighter options such as minestrone or chicken and wild rice served throughout the year, and hearty clam chowder in the winter months. Save some room for dessert, because there are lots of goodies, such as the naturally gluten-free crumbly pignoli cookies (made with pine nuts and almond paste) and soft, chewy chocolate chip cookies (both of which sell out quickly, so come early). Tiramisu is another bestseller, as are cannoli – a shatteringly crisp cylinder stuffed with a lightly sweet, fluffy ricotta and cream mixture and rolled in chocolate chips. Yum. There is plenty of room to eat in at Italia, which has tables inside or outside on the patio (the latter boasts festive red umbrellas to help cool things down). While you wait for

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Backwoods Inn

17846 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country, 91351 Established 1966 Info www.backwoodsinn.com

A wonderful, old time steakhouse with sawdust on the floors. They are locally famous for their stuffed baked potato. Jerry Woods, first opened the Backwoods Inn in 1966. In 1968 Bob and Rose Ohler purchased the restaurant and the family still runs the eatery. Fun fact: The china at the Backwoods Inn is Strawberry Hill by Syracuse, the same china used at Musso & Frank’s Restaurant in Hollywood. The restaurant has been used for location shoots for “Charlie’s Angels (the original), “Starsky & Hutch,” “The Profiler” and “Criminal Minds,” among others. Famous faces dining here include Mandy Patinkin, James Garner, David Hasslehoff, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Dale Robertson, Tippie Hedren, Yvonne DeCarlo, James Earl Jones, Gene Hackman, Bella Shaw, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lorne Green, Monty Montana, Dwayne Johnson and Bob Barker. your meal, take a little time to explore all the items imported from the home country, ranging from huge tins of olive oil to colorful jars of peppers and big bunches of dried herbs to tiny bottles of fruit infused-sodas (blood orange was my favorite). Or, if you prefer, there’s a huge refrigerator offering just about every menu item (entrees, pizzas made with homemade dough plus sauces and pastas) for heating up at home. Catering for parties of every size is also available, with delivery included for orders of $100 or more. Though she’s been in the restaurant business for most of her life, watching customers old and new enjoying Italia’s food never gets old for Magnanimo. “They’ll say, ‘My grandma used to cook like this.’ They get excited, so we get excited,” she said. “Our food is made with love and you can really taste the difference.” Italia Panetteria & Deli, 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, #55, Valencia. Open 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call (661) 294-9069 or visit www.italiavalencia. com.

J U N E 23, 2019

A SECOND WIND

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 1

SENIORLIVING

Paying it forward Japan in 1963 after the president of Tokyo University was mugged in a public place and no one helped him. was busily shopping at Baby He started a movement calling for Gap the other bravery in small acts of kindness that day. I had he hoped would spread throughout three youngJapan. sters to buy for Fast-forward to 1998, World — a birthday boy, Kindness Day was formed by the a newborn and my World Kindness Movement. Accordgrandson just for ing to Michael Lloyd-White, CEO no reason. Eagerly of World Kindness USA, kindness scouring the sale turns on your radar and you start to rack, juggling sizes and matching notice things, start to see where your shirts with shorts, my arms were ladengagement can make a difference. en with outfits. Suddenly a woman It involves leaving your comfort peeked around a wall and we stared zone and doing something you don’t face to face, surprising us both. She necessarily want to do. He says there blurted “Hi.” I responded,“Hi,” and is no act of kindness that is not temthen she disappeared. pered by courage. I dismissed the incident, assuming Engaging in kindness provides she was looking for someone, when so many benefits. According to the a few minutes later she returned and British Journal of Social Psychology, said, “Here, take this 40 percent-off those who performed a daily act of coupon. I won’t use it.” I was touched kindness experienced a “significant” by her generosity and initially deboost in happiness, compared to clined to accept it. But she insisted those who did that she didn’t nothing kind. need anything Kind acts im“COMPASSION, and couldn’t prove energy use the coupon COOPERATION AND and self-esteem; which expired KINDNESS ARE CENTRAL decrease depresthe next day. TO HEALTHY COMMUNITY sion, anxiety, As I gratefulstress and blood ly accepted it, FUNCTIONING AND ARE THE pressure; and she asked who THREADS THAT HOLD OUR even enhance life I was buying span. for. Then she SOCIAL FABRIC TOGETHER.“ Compassion, handed me a cooperation second coupon. and kindness are central to healthy “Really.” she said, “There’s no one community functioning and are the I’m shopping for. Please use them threads that hold our social fabric both. Blessings to the children.” When I related this touching inter- together. As seniors, we are in a particuaction to my daughter, she said, “Now larly advantageous position to be of you need to pay it forward, mom.” service to others. Retirement affords You know the idea. Rather than paying back a favor, you pay it forward to us more discretionary time to volunteer, share and be active in our someone else. community. Our life experience is Paying it forward became popularvaluable and can have a transforming ized in 2000 when Catherine Ryan effect on others. Our kindness can Hyde’s novel by the same name was surprise and delight others, like the made into a movie. It’s an appealing perfect stranger who made an impact notion that engaging in acts of kindon me. The Dalai Lama says, “Be ness could promote a sort of chain kind whenever possible. It is always reaction and potentially alter the possible.” lives of others and even our cultural By Mary Peterson Signal Staff Writer

environment. Kindness is becoming a worldwide movement, which started in

Mary Petersen is a retired COC English instructor, 30-year SCV resident and two-time breast cancer survivor.

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J U N E 23, 2019

PROFILE

Behind the scenes in Santa Clarita By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

anaging a family-run movie ranch might sound like a dream job. However, for Steve Arklin, Jr., ranch manager of Rancho Deluxe in Sand Canyon, the responsibility also comes with long days. “Some of the less glamorous parts of running a movie ranch would definitely be the long hours,” he said. “Sometimes throughout the season, I will have to go several days without any sleep and more commonly I see 20-plus hour days. I guess that’s what happens when you turn your home into a movie ranch.”

Home grown

Arklin was born in 1986 to Steve and Diane Arklin and has lived his entire life in the Santa Clarita Valley. He is the oldest of three brothers. Arklin and his siblings — Dustin and Ryan — live on the family ranch, as do his parents. Arklin’s parents purchased five acres in Sand Canyon more than 30 years ago and then began adding more acreage through the years. The ranch now is more than 250 acres. “It was a great place to be a kid. I had a fun childhood,” said Arklin. “I also learned a lot growing up on a ranch. We had livestock, horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and chickens.

Rancho Deluxe Ranch Manager Steve Arklin, Jr. in front of one of several exterior sets within its Western town. PHOTOS BY LORENA MEJIA / THE SIGNAL

We had just about everything at one time. We’ve got fewer animals now.”

Hard worker

A 2004 graduate of Canyon High School, Arklin began working at a young age. “I learned a lot about construction and operating equipment growing up,” he said. He started working as soon as he

Rancho Deluxe has grown from its original five acres to more than 250 acres.

graduated high school. He held a variety of jobs during his youth. He worked for a construction company building garages, at a pet store for a few years cleaning out cages and as a heavy-equipment operator at a rock yard. “I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do,” he said. But between all those jobs, Arklin

was learning about the movie business. “I had part time jobs during the summer and during school vacations at movie ranches in the area since I was 12,” he said. “As I got older, I would drive water trucks to keep the roads wet, then when I was 18, they had me do contracts and ranch management.”

J U N E 23, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 3

PROFILE Arklin’s parents noticed their son’s interest in the film business and asked him if he thought he could turn Rancho Deluxe into a movie ranch. “It grew from that conversation,” he said. “We didn’t build the ranch to be a movie ranch, but it just blossomed and turned into what it is now.”

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe offers a studio filming location for feature films, television series, reality shows, photo shoots and commercials. The ranch has five full-time maintenance staff employees and hires additional help when there is filming on the ranch. The name “Rancho Deluxe” originates from the movie of the same name. Arklin said his father and his brothers were often jokingly referred to as the “Rancho Deluxe Boys” by their friends. The film, starring Jeff Bridges and Sam Waterson, was about two drifters of widely varying backgrounds, who rustle cattle in Montana during modern times and try to avoid being caught. Rancho Deluxe offers a variety of buildings and scenery. “We have everything from little cabins to a grandiose Mediterranean villa. We have barns, lakes with waterfall features, a Western town, a log-cabin settlement, forests, open natural landscapes, dirt roads, paved roads, gravel roads and a game room called ‘The Man Cave,’” Arklin said. Productions such as “SWAT,” “Timeless,” “LA to Vegas,” “MasterChef,” “MasterChef Jr.” and seasons one and two of HBO’s “Westworld” have filmed at the ranch. Other credits include “The Orville,” “Transparent,” “NCIS,” “Last Man on Earth,” “Sons of Anarchy,” “The Mentalist” and “Knight Rider.” Films have included “Iron Man 3,” “Bad Teacher,” “Time Machine,” “Eddie Murphy’s Haunted House,” “Rush Hour 3” and “Men in Tights.” Commercials for Pods, Michelob, Ford, Subaru, GEICO, American Express, Sam Adams and Honda have filmed at the ranch. It has also served as music video locations for Eminem, Bruno Mars, Dwight Yoakam, Trace Adkins and CeeLo Green.

The Sand Fire

At 2:10 p.m. July 22, 2016, a fire erupted in the riverbed near Sand Canyon and Soledad Canyon roads.

Rancho Deluxe offers a variety of buildings and scenery, including these exterior sets within its Western town.

Called the Sand Fire, it took until August 3 to contain the fire which destroyed 41,432 acres. It cost one life and nearly two dozen homes. “We’ve been through several fires, so we’re prepared,” Arklin said. Water lines and hydrants run throughout the property and Arklin makes sure his staff is well trained. “When a fire breaks out, we try to create a defense,” he said. “In the Sand Fire, we brought in about 30 water trucks and 5 or 6 bulldozers. I don’t know how many friends showed up to help us.” They sprayed water on the property for days before the fire roared into the area. “We created a barrier to keep the fire back, we fought it off as best we could. There was a lot of luck, but also a lot of what we did saved the property,” said Arklin. The ranch lost trees and brush, but no buildings. “I stayed up for three days straight fighting the fire before I finally had to take a break,” Arklin said. For a month after the fire, Rancho Deluxe had a crew on scene with water trucks 24 hours a day. “We would switch out drivers every 12 hours,” he said. Flareups, burning embers and spot fires were a constant danger.

Living where you work

Arklin said the Santa Clarita Valley is both “a great place to live

and to do business.” It is home to many people who work in the entertainment industry as well as to several movie ranches. Arklin said

the ranches complement each other rather than compete with each other. “We try to help each other,” he said. “We’re all a little different. One ranch has a Spanish town, one ranch a Western town, one ranch an Iraqi village. If we don’t have something a production needs, we’ll recommend another ranch, and they do the same for us.” Arklin said using the family ranch as a movie ranch helps pay the bills. He knows how lucky he is to live where he works. “It’s nice to work close to home,” he said. “When productions come to film here, people tell me how happy there are to be close to home and not have to travel to another state, or country, to work. That makes me feel good, that we’re helping families be closer together.” Arklin said the City of Santa Clarita and the city’s film office also helps make life easier on the ranch. “The city is really good to the film industry. The film office does a great job,” he said.

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34 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U N E 23, 2019

GARDENING

Make your backyard gardens magical nighttime respites outdoors for rest and relaxation, entertainment and nighttime sports. There are many ways you can turn your ordinary landscape into a special place that is quite different than the daytime garden you are used to seeing.

By Jane Gates Signal Staff Writer

iving in this part of the country rewards us with a climate that makes it perfect to use the garden after dark. Most other areas of the country have too much inclement weather or too many aggressive nighttime bugs to regularly relax outdoors after the sun goes down. And since so many of our summer days chase us indoors with excessive heat, the garden becomes even more tempting when temperatures cool at the end of the day. So why not design your landscape to include nighttime use? After all, a garden can look amazingly magical after dark! When planning out your garden, keep in mind all the different ways you can use it when daytime is done. Think of extending your living space

Relax

Add comfy chairs, a water feature to provide the calming sound of trickling water and plant night-scented plants for a bit of aroma therapy. You can make your garden into a sensory experience after dark with scented flowers. There is something truly delightful about sitting in a garden aglow with warm nighttime lighting and the fragrance of night-blooming flowers filling the air. By planting scented flowers in your garden, you can create a romantic experience or stress-healing retreat to enjoy and share after dark. Look for white or light pastel-colored flowers to add visual contrast in the dark.

Scented flowers

Some good night-scented white

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Jasmine polyanthum fills a yard with perfume both day and night. PHOTOS BY JANE GATES / THE SIGNAL

flowering vines are jasmines like Trachelospermum jasminoides known as Star Jasmine (best planted with some daytime dappled shade), and the pink and white Jasminium polyanthum for full sun. Moonflowers are another good vine for partial- or full-shade garden areas. But, only use Ipomoea alba. Other other varieties can be poisonous. For low-growing flowers, try a ground cover of white Alyssum, flowering Tobacco or the Four O’Clock Alba. The Tufted Evening Primrose and the Chocolate flower are two good choices for native, water-wise scented flowers. Fill a larger space with the shrubby California native Mock Orange (Philadelphus lesisii) for full sun or part shade. Or, try the frost-shy Cestrum nocturnum, the Night-Blooming Jasmine, to permeate the air with a powerful perfume in a protected area. Casa Blanca Lily or the diminutive Zephranthes drummondii (Rain Lily) are some good bulb choices. They are good to grow in mild sun or part shade, and are not fussy about soil. There are whites and other colors of Brugmansia, Angle Trumpet (all parts toxic if eaten), Centauria and Tobacco flower that will add color to your garden during the day yet still flood your garden with a gentle nighttime perfume. You can even design in some of these fragrant flowers near a doorway or window where the scent can filter into your home and soothe you to sleep.

Nighttime fun and comfort

Other ways to make your garden inviting at night involve building and furnishing spaces that are comfortable

Create a little mystery with night lighting in your garden.

and practical. Design in permanent features like a cozy patio, add tables and chairs, build an outdoor fireplace or fire pit and maybe a built-in barbecue so you can celebrate the outdoors at night with friends and family. If you like to entertain, set your backyard up so it is comfortable for evening parties in the garden. Look into some of the decorative and useful furniture being made for outdoor use.

Lighting

Add a lighted sport court, a small hiking path dotted with low voltage or solar lighting or consider a dramatically lit water feature for powerful effects in the evening hours. Lighting is an art of its own, transforming the same location into something entirely different with light and shadow. Use it in your night garden to pick out focal points, provide safety and transform a dark garden into a magical playground. With outdoor LED lights embedded in flexible cords, you can even line walkways or draw outlines in your nighttime scene. There have never been so many choices in lighting effects. Most are energy efficient so they shouldn’t have much impact on your electricity bill. Choose warmer yellows or cooler whites and accent a special area with colored lights for special effects. Think about all the ways you can make your garden work for you after the sun goes down. Nighttime gardens can be a haven for the inland landscape. Create your own magical garden. You can extend the useful part of your house and lifestyle not only into your garden, but deep into the night.

J U N E 23, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 5

Oafs, Pumas, Movie Stars & TWO Champs! After that spate of heat, it’s been a splendiferous June. Drat that summer’s around the corner, with its surface-of-Mercury temps. All these years of living here, I’ve developed a fairly foolproof measurement. It’s rather uncanny, but we almost always have 100 days of hot weather, starting around the Fourth of July and ending mid-October. Well. That meteorological imitation of Nostradamus aside, shall we get moseying on our weekly trail ride through Santa Clarita history? It was a rhetorical question. Get on the horse. Follow me … WAY BACK WHEN & THEN SOME

• The Santa Clarita had not yet been created All was dark. Time was not a concept. All life was brooding in a great, yet-to-be defined black hole. • And then on June 27, 1849, Edward Fitzgerald Beale married Mary Edwards. She was credited in coming up with many of the real estate and business schemes that both earned and cost the couple fortunes. Sneaking up on 200 years later, the SCV still bears the name of the famous explorer in our state historical landmark, Beale’s Cut. It was the first major road linking Southern and Central California. JUNE 23, 1919

• Local makes good A young, handsome silent film star set up shop in Downtown Newhall to make an untitled “five reel photo play.” The actor and his company built realistic Western fronts in town that would later be called, Mixville. The actor, Tom Mix, would later become one of the world’s top screen draws. • The airport is coming! This item from the June 27 Mighty Signal is interesting just for its language: “It is rumored that a large tract of land will shortly be donated as a landing place and aviation grounds; also it is intended to erect a large Airdome. No doubt Saugus in the near future will be a ‘Haven’ for air ships.” That airstrip would eventually be Newhall International Airport, near where Granary Square is today. • Two champs, one village Heavyweight boxing champ John L. Sullivan popped into town to look into buying oil leases in Saugus. Wonder if he took a ride up Soledad Canyon where

former Newhall Train Depot. Title of the flick? “Heaven With A Barbed Wire Fence.” Although he drew fourth billing, Glenn Ford was the lead in his first major motion picture.

the Metrolink station sits today? Back then, another heavyweight champ, “Gentleman” Jim Corbett, owned a dynamite factory there that would eventually become Bermite. Corbett knocked out Sullivan to take the pugilistic crown years earlier. • Although we didn’t have low riders Drive-by shootings and road rage aren’t anything new. A fellow with the interesting name of Galloway Piper was arrested for firing 17 shots from his car into the back of a slow-moving bakery wagon in front of the Saugus Cafe. JUNE 23, 1929

• Punch, but no Judy On this date, a Mr. LeMoyne of the LeMoyne Ranch and A.E. Widle performed a one-sided bout of fisticuffs over a business disagreement. Mr. Widle socked Mr. LeMoyne in the eye, “but not before removing Mr. LeMoyne’s eyeglasses,” the police blotter reported. • La-tee-dah Local Bill Davis just bought a new luxury car that he referred to as his, “La Salle.” The cowboys around town took to teasing him, calling their Model Ts, “La Lizzies.” • When we were a zoo Today, Whites Canyon and Soledad Canyon Road is a busy business intersection. But 90 years ago, it was the halcyon Remi Nadeau vacation ranch, filled with grazing deer, elk and buffalo. Nadeau had 85 deer on his compound, with 100 due for delivery in October. They also had caged wildcats, mountain lions and various critters. Folks could stay at cabins or just picnic under shady oaks and cottonwoods. Take a good gander now because when we get back to the future, they won’t be there. JUNE 23, 1939

• Not on video? Eighty years ago this week, Jean Rogers was filming at the old potato packing shed, aka, the

• We were prepared The conflicts in Europe and Asia were being felt here in the sleepy Little Santa Clara Village as we were known back then. Through San Francisquito and other Saugus canyons, armed guards from the Metropolitan Water District patrolled. The fear was terrorists would blow up the huge water mains that ran through the SCV and fed Los Angeles. JUNE 23, 1946

• A forgotten timeline Easily one of the most important and memorable citizens in the entire history of this valley was William Surrey Hart. He built an epic castle atop a hill in downtown Newhall in the 1920s and in his heyday, he was one of the most famous people in the world. More than a century later, actors still credit Hart as being the original celluloid cowboy hero, part wild West, part Shakespeare. Hart’s death on this very day will forever be a landmark. His passing also was a line of demarcation, separating the old days of cowboying, ranching, gunfights and heroism from a new, modern era. JUNE 23, 1949

• Farewell, dear Albert Albert Swall died a half-century back. Swall arrived in the sleepy little village of Newhall when it was less than a few hundred souls in 1890 when he was 19. As a teenager, he leased some space in the back of Jim Gully’s general store and opened up a meat department. He was the first businessman to move from Railroad Avenue to present-day San Fernando Road, leading a businessman’s exodus. In 1914, he built the famous Swall Hotel. Swall would eventually own a good chunk of downtown Newhall and be one of the town’s richest and most influential citizens. • Big Cliff Cliff Thompson was startling a whole lot of citizens in town. Cliff was making a series of presentations at local stores, shaking folks’ hands. It was a handshake locals would never forget. Cliff was billed as the World’s Largest Man at 8 feet, 7 inches tall. He weighed nearly 500 pounds. Cliff was actually well over 9 feet tall when he put on

TIMERANGER

his big ol’ Stetson. • Just like a week minus the rain Ouch. This week a half-century back, we had rain and temperatures in the low 100s in some spots. JUNE 23, 1959

• Double darn ouch! This week, four decades back, the temperatures hit the 110 mark in some spots. • A Tom Frew joke waiting to just happen The Wayside Honor Rancho held its commencement ceremonies for 8th grade graduates who received diplomas while staying in the poky. JUNE 23, 1969

• Cops vs. Sclaritans Several youths, one claiming he had cracked ribs, others claiming head and face wounds, filed complaints against the Sheriff ’s Department’s Special Enforcement Bureau. In several different incidents, the SEB were accused of kicking, beating and verbally abusing local youths. The SEB had only been in town for two nights and were here to cut down on cruising up and down Lyons Avenue. The SEB officers noted that they had been confronted by a parade of 24 cars filled with men from North Oaks who had threatened to run them out of town. JUNE 23, 1979

• Guillotine for punks? The Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society dedicated a special monument for the St. Francis Dam Disaster, in which about 500 folk lost their lives. About a year later, in 1979, the monument — made of bronze and dam debris — had been nearly destroyed by vandals. Funny thing about time portals. They don’t come with lit-up freeway offramp signs. You just have to — know. We’re here. All y’all have to go back home to your friends and families and I’ll go where I’ll go. See you back here in seven with another exciting Time Ranger adventure. Until then, Perdona. ¡Te hace más ligero y vayanse con Dios, amigos! (Forgive. It makes you lighter and ride with God, my friends!) John Boston has been writing about SCV history for more than 40 years. Read his historical tome, “Images of America: The Santa Clarita Valley” on Amazon.com. Check out his History of The Mighty Signal series on Saturdays on A1.

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J U N E 23, 2019

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38 · S U N D AY S I G N A L

Opinion

J U N E 23, 2019

Unless otherwise stated, the views and opinions expressed are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of The Signal.

OURVIEWS

E T H I C A L LY S P E A K I N G

Teamwork and a Crisis Averted for Castaic High

Put it on Your Calendar: Re-Learning How to Rest

By The Signal Editorial Board

By David Hegg

ell, that was a bit of a scare. Word went out last weekend that Castaic High School, just weeks away from opening, still didn’t have vital utility connections, including natural gas lines. Insiders were saying it was entirely possible that the long-awaited school, the seventh major high school in the Santa Clarita Valley and the first devoted exclusively to residents of Castaic and Val Verde, might not open as scheduled on Aug. 13. “It’s not like you can flip a switch and all of a sudden there’s gas and electricity,” Randy Wrage, project manager for the high school’s construction, said on June 15. “It will not open without gas. We need the gas soon.” It seemed the Southern California Gas Co. had yet to secure needed permits from Los Angeles County, and regardless of who was to blame, the delay threatened the scheduled debut of the 200-acre, $126.2-million project. Imagine: A school that cost over a hundred million dollars, the result of a decade and a half of planning, otherwise ready to open but sitting vacant because it wasn’t yet properly outfitted with hot water and heat. Presumably,

that would be something of a political dumpster fire for the William S. Hart Union High School District. Thankfully, once the news broke, all of the various parties got together and expedited the process. The office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose district includes the SCV, stepped up to the plate with expedited processing of permits the Gas Company needed. The Gas Company, in turn, responded promptly when the county requested additional insurance documentation, and next thing you know, the permits are in place and within a few days the digging began for the trenches where the gas lines will be placed. Now, says Wrage, the meter will be installed and the infrastructure needed for the gas service will be completed by July 12. Crisis averted, thanks to a renewed sense of urgency and teamwork — and when Castaic High School opens as scheduled on Aug. 13, there will be no shortage of people to thank.

n the West we are preoccupied with doing, with attaining, with accomplishment. We work longer hours to meet the demands of longer lists while not so secretly longing for something better. And when the time comes when we have a whole day that is unscheduled, devoid of lists and tasks and obligations, we find that we just don’t know what to do, and especially, how to rest. We feel guilty too often and bored too soon, and then we just give up and make a list of things to occupy ourselves until we can get back to work. Over the past several years I have had the opportunity to travel to Africa and Asia. On several occasions, I had the chance to spend long periods of time with some locals whose pace of life was, to my western mind, quite slow. And just about the time that I started feeling sorry for them, they declared just how sorry they were for me. They wondered how we managed in the States given that we are always in a hurry, and never seem to be at ease. They were quite sad to hear we didn’t

have all our meals together as families, talking and laughing and eating. When I told them the latest statistic that over 40% of all meals in the U.S. are eaten in the car, they were shocked. They went on to say how sorry they were that our love affair with cars meant we never got to walk anywhere. For them, walking was all about spending time in relationship. As they walked, they talked, and they expressed to me that by walking they were granted the gift of slow time as they journeyed on their daily routes. I remember one man telling me, “You may have watches, but here we have time.” What is really at stake is the loss of a beautiful thing called rest. And while we mistakenly define rest as lying down and doing nothing, actually rest can come in many forms as long as they refresh and reinvigorate the body, mind and soul. A long walk can be a time of mental rest even as a good workout can be a time of emotional reinvigoration. But for most of us, rest is a luxury that we’d love to have but we See HEGG, page 39

READERLETTERS

De Bree Brushes Over Facts Mr. Jim De Bree’s commentary (June 6, “Supreme Court, a Strange Case of Political Football”) brushes over some significant facts, and seems to support the idea that the Senate under Mitch McConnell essentially “stole” a nomination from President Obama and Judge Merrick Garland. Initially, neither a president nor a judicial nominee has a right to a nomination nor confirmation by the Senate (which is why the litigation seeking to require a vote failed). The comparison to the Clarence Thomas nom-

ination fails to mention that Justice Thomas was nominated in July 1991, over 16 months prior to the November 1992 election, and thus his consideration by the Senate was consistent with the treatment of the Garland nomination, who was nominated less than one year prior to the election. (Eight months to be exact). The Biden rule, cited by McConnell, related to a nomination less than one year prior to the election, when the Senate is controlled by a party other than the president’s. If you have watched the Biden clip, if he was joking (something I had not heard before), he was sure being serious about it.

The current kerfuffle on which Mr. de Bree asserts that the rules are being changed in the middle of the game relies in part on the Thomas confirmation, which as we see is factually distinct. More importantly, there is only one rule, and it remains unchanged since the Constitution’s adoption — the nominee must be confirmed by the Senate, which is under no obligation to confirm, otherwise why require confirmation? What is the practical distinction between the president withdrawing a nomination that is “in trouble” and the Senate simply refusing to consider See LETTERS, page 40

J U N E 23, 2019

S U N D AY S I G N A L · 39

Opinion

Contact: Tim Whyte, Signal Editor Phone: 661-287-5591 | Email: letters@signalscv.com Mail: 26330 Diamond Place, Suite 100, Santa Clarita, CA 91350

BLACK&WHYTE

D R AW I N G CO N C LU S I O N S R I C K M C K E E

Boots, Brews, Cops and Social Media Pitfalls By Tim Whyte Signal Editor

itting in Central Park last Saturday, listening to live country music performed by some of the genre’s most current artists, I experienced an eerie reminder of what happened at the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas. There, perched high on the ridge overlooking Central Park, was what appeared to be a law enforcement vehicle, lights flashing — and standing next to it was, I assumed, a sheriff ’s deputy, standing watch, to keep thousands of concert goers, including my family, safe. It could have been a private security vehicle — my eyes are getting older — but either way, it was one of the “good guys.” Periodically, running along the ridge and through the dirt trails surrounding Central Park, were more good guys, dirt-motorcycle-mounted deputies, watching for trouble. It was reassuring to know sheriff ’s deputies and/or private security were there, covering the high ground. It provided reassurance that, on this day, any guns on that ridge were in the hands of people whose mission was to protect us, not harm us. There was security down below, too. We all went through metal detectors on the way into the festival, backpacks and purses were searched, and private security roamed the grounds. Sometime shortly before sunset, two armed private security guards approached the people sitting in front of us. I don’t know why. Our neighbors seemed normal enough. They had a brief conversation and then the security guards walked away. Whatever prompted the encounter seemed to be quickly and peacefully resolved. That was the closest thing I saw to an “incident” that night, and there were

thousands of people at the Boots & Brews concert, of all ages, most of whom had a perfectly peaceful night enjoying country music. But not, apparently, all of them. And try as they might, the security presence can’t be everywhere, at every moment. That’s the case in any situation where a large crowd is gathered. The day after the concert, rumors began swirling on social media about several incidents in which a group of several women viciously attacked female concert-goers, unprovoked. Participants in social media forums have a penchant for hyperbole, so in the professional media — including responsible print and online news organizations like The Signal and our website, SignalSCV.com — we have to take care to sift fact from fiction, truth from rumor and innuendo. But clearly, SOMETHING happened at Boots & Brews. As of this writing, which is the Thursday prior to Sunday publication (the Sunday news magazine has earlier print deadlines than our daily newspapers), we really only have a couple of things confirmed. There were two reports of battery, and neither victim, according to sheriff ’s officials, suffered major injuries. The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station initially released very little information other than telling us the reports were filed Monday, two days after the concert. Police reports, under California law, are not themselves public records. However, the following pieces of information, under the California Public Records Act, should be public information regarding any incident reported to police: See WHYTE, page 40

HEGG

Continued from page 38

simply don’t have the time. And that’s the problem. In the ancient world of the Bible, the first appearance of rest is found when God Himself, after creating all things, rested on the seventh day. There is something important to be found here, and the Jews were commanded by God to recognize it. Rest is necessary to enjoyment of life, as well as to its very vitality. The Jews were commanded to rest on what came to be known as the Sabbath. While the Sabbath became a topic of great controversy over the centuries, it remains true that the principle behind it is important today. Simply put, it is wise to put a little Sabbath into every day. And in this busy western world that is addicted to activity and accomplishment, we’ll probably have to add rest to our schedule and highlight it on our to-do lists. But I want to go further and suggest that some ways of resting are much more beneficial than others. If you have a sedentary job, then physical exercise can be a great way to rest your mind and invigorate your body. And if you are mentally strained at work or at home during the day, then activities

such as listening to music, reading great literature, cooking a meal with your spouse, or tending the roses can be restful and refreshing. And don’t forget that personal interaction with those you love, talking, listening, laughing and snuggling can be about the best rest for the heart you’ll ever find. Be careful with things that seem to be restful but actually continue to drain you. These include television, social media interaction, and phone conversations. While these can be fun, studies have found that they can overload an already tired brain and the end result is anything but restful for the whole person. In a society that puts a premium on achievement, we are seeing the price of this pace amounts to stressed-out people who are on all kinds of meds, and usually overweight. All our busy-ness and productivity is killing us slowly. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Get to your appointment calendar first and schedule some rest. But you better hurry, because Monday is just around the corner and the performance treadmill will be waiting for you. David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church and a Santa Clarita resident.“Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays.

40 · S U N D AY S I G N A L

J U N E 23, 2019

Opinion

WHYTE

Continued from page 39

“The time, substance, and location of all complaints or requests for assistance received by the agency and the time and nature of the response thereto, including, to the extent the information regarding crimes alleged or committed or any other incident investigated is recorded, the time, date, and location of occurrence, [and] the time and date of the report, the name, age, and current address of the victim...” Yes, by the way. If you are a crime victim, your identity is public information. That doesn’t mean we will publish it — we routinely exercise discretion on such things — but it is part of the public record. In many cases, it would be easier for a law enforcement agency to just release the report to us. But, they have the option to only release the information required by law. And, additional pieces of information are required to be released if an arrest is made — including, of course, the name of the person arrested and the charges he or she is expected to face. But, regarding Boots & Brews, for most of this week, we had none of that. For several days, the rest of last weekend’s details were left to the wilds of Facebook and Twitter. On Thursday, we reiterated our

request for those pieces of information, which we initially had requested on Monday. On Thursday, we received a reply with a bit more detail, which we planned to publish in a news story Thursday afternoon. The upshot: Two incidents in which women reported being attacked, and one of the attackers was a woman. The second victim could not describe her attacker because she was pushed to the ground and kicked while she was down. As far as we know, neither victim was transported by ambulance and no arrests were made. There were much more sensational accounts being put forth this week on social media, mostly secondhand or even third-hand accounts, but so far we don’t have any official confirmation of those particular details and we have no way of knowing which details are credible and which ones are not. In fact, one of the Facebook users making the most noise about the incident is doing so under a fake name. And that puts us in a bit of a quandary. Some other media outlets chose to run with some of the unconfirmed information. Hey, it’s sensational. It gets eyeballs. But we strive for a higher standard than that. I explained this to a person who sent us an angry letter asking why we hadn’t reported all the details. Apparently we are expected to either A) be clairvoyant or B) have 100% faith in anything we

LETTERS

Continued from page 38

a nomination? Or for that matter the Senate voting not to confirm? Mr. de Bree apparently believes the Senate must vote, a position he assumes but does not discuss, and for which he provides no support, legal or factual. Mr. de Bree clearly implies that it is the Republicans who are changing the rules. In doing so he overlooks the shabby history of the Democrats in treating Supreme Court nominations beginning with the Robert Bork nomination in 1987, a confirmation process led by Democrats including the chairman of the committee, Joe Biden, that created a new verb — to Bork. This treatment by Democrats continues to this day. Finally, if the Democrats seek to change the

see on Facebook. She said her daughter was one of the victims. I replied to her email and invited her and her daughter to be interviewed by a reporter. Her daughter did in fact call our crime reporter, and as of Thursday, we were waiting to hear back from her because she was speaking to an attorney first before agreeing to be interviewed. So, there’s potential progress. Her first-person account would be an important part of a responsible news story, and so is the additional information we received Thursday from law enforcement, as well as any additional information that will be forthcoming from the Sheriff's Department’s pending investigation. Contrary to what many of the Facebook trolls have been saying, we can’t simply repeat whatever we see on social medial and treat it as gospel. Also, as horrendous as these incidents might have been, they were isolated — and there was a prominent security and law enforcement presence at the concert. Unfortunately, it only takes a few A-holes to disrupt an otherwise peaceful event, giving the event a figurative black eye and giving victims very real ones. I understand victims’ frustration. If something awful happened, we should be able to shine a light on that. On the flip side, it would also be irresponsible to report the story without some level

makeup of the court, they will be doing so for purely political reasons. Any assertion on their part that they were driven to it by the Republicans is pure sophistry. These disputes have a common progenitor — Roe vs. Wade, a case that has haunted our politics since its issuance, by creating a right to abortion out of the due process clause (the 5th and 14th Amendments) under rules made up by the Court. In doing so, the Court removed decisions concerning abortion from the political process, where the people could discuss and decide if, when and in what circumstances abortion would be legal, and has created an argument that will haunt us until it is overturned and the issue returned to the people. While the Court is a powerful institution, it can not change science, which leads to the conclusion that life begins at conception, nor the belief that killing is wrong. We can only solve this issue by a debate among

of verification, or to paint the concert as an event that was totally out of control. I was there — it wasn’t. And I think it would be a shame if these incidents, whatever they were, prevented the annual event from returning to our community next year. Maybe there are lessons the Boots & Brews organizers, the sheriff ’s station and the city can learn from this, but in my opinion, based on what I saw, canceling future events would be an over-reaction. Does that mean these incidents didn’t happen? No, it doesn’t. In fact I tend to believe that the basic circumstances we’ve heard about were real. But that doesn’t mean the event has to go away, and it also doesn’t relieve us, as a media outlet, from our responsibility and obligation to seek the truth and report it, from credible, identifiable sources. We always welcome such sources to come forward, and we always ask local law enforcement to be as forthcoming as possible when it comes to releasing public information on incidents in our community. Meanwhile, I’m thankful for the security and sheriff ’s presence that did exist at Boots & Brews — especially those guys up on the ridge. Tim Whyte is editor of The Signal. His column appears Sundays. On Twitter: @TimWhyte.

the people — in short, the legislative process. Stephen Maseda, Valencia

Thanks for World War II History I just got around to reading John Boston’s twopart series on World War II in the Santa Clarita Valley. Remarkable journalism. Astounding stories and people of such great character and sacrifice like Fred Trueblood and Mrs. Margaret Fose. I knew nothing of this history but will never forget it now. Thank you for giving this incredible history the space it deserved. Paul McGuire, Canyon Country Submit a Letter to the Editor

Include name, address & phone number; Anonymous letters are not printed; Email: letters@signalscv.com; Mail to: Letters to the Editor, The Signal, 26330 Diamond Place, Ste. 100, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.

J U N E 23, 2019

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42 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

CROSSWORD TIME

J U N E 23, 2019

THE VILLAGE IDIOT

Dead mall walking By Jim Mullen Signal Contributing Writer

I just got back from an hour-anda-half drive to the big city to pick up a few things at the mall that I couldn’t get delivered from Amazon. It was noon, and the giant parking lot was nearly empty. Was it some national holiday that I’d forgotten about? Was there some special event going on at the other end of town today? Well, whatever — I got to park near the entrance. It was a hot day, so the air conditioning was on full-blast, and yet the vast, wide-open central aisle was people-free, except for a guy washing the floor on a riding squeegee. All the usual mall stores were there and open for business, but the only people in them were employees folding T-shirts and dressing mannequins. The few cars I’d seen in the parking lot must have belonged to the workers. They used to tell employees to park as far away from the store as possible to leave room for customers. Now, they must tell them to park close to the entrance, so it looks as if someone is actually shopping inside. I’m old enough to remember when the malls started killing off all the stores that used to be downtown. Lots of small-town business districts fought back, but easy parking, multiplexes and fun restaurants all in one convenient place sucked the customers away. Now, online shopping has battered the big “anchor stores” that bookend every mall, and the lack of traffic is killing the smaller specialty shops. There’s a website called Dead Malls.com where you can see pictures of these now-empty shopping centers, which were bustling and packed just a couple decades ago. Now, most of them make Chernobyl look like a garden spot. I wonder how anyone stays in business. I’ve been to movies in the mall where there are only 10 people in the whole theater. And that’s on opening weekend for the latest “hit” movie. How can they even afford to pay for the air conditioning? But there are still some stores

doing bang-up business at the mall. The cellphone providers and the Apple store were jammed. I needed an appointment to get into the Apple store. Compared to the three-story, now-vacant Sears, the Apple store is tiny. You’d expect the place to be full of young people, and it was. Except they all worked there. Their staff looked like the student union at one of the many universities that wouldn’t let me in. The customers were much, much older. Half the men looked like Bernie Sanders. Half the women looked as if they’d just showered and changed after an invigorating Pilates or speed yoga class. You could have filmed one of those vitamin commercials for “active seniors” there. The young man helping me had a slight German accent, and he fixed a problem with my phone that had stymied me for months in about 30 seconds. We chatted a little. He said he lived in a loft in what used to be a department store in the old, not-soempty-anymore downtown, and rides his bike to the mall every day. He doesn’t own a car, and doesn’t want to. “I use Uber if I need it,” he said. I said, “I can’t believe what happened to Sears. We used to get their catalog, and it was the size of a phone book.” Hans looked puzzled and said, “What’s a phone book?” Then he asked if he could tweak some other things on my phone for me. I walked out of there with my same old phone, but it worked better and faster than ever before. And it didn’t cost me a penny. So, naturally, I bought a new keyboard and a trackpad. Goodbye, $230. On the way out, I passed an Ugly Shoe City and an Ugly T-Shirt City and a Too Hot To Eat Hot-Sauce City — all ghost-town empty. I passed what I thought was a Victoria’s Secret, but it turned out to be a clothing store for tweens. Who is buying this stuff? Then it hit me: No one. It’s not Amazon that’s putting stores out of business — it’s their business that’s putting them out of business. Contact Jim Mullen at mullen.jim@ gmail.com.

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A tale of

Missing pup having run py found after of crash; away from scene ani dehydrate mal was hungry d when sav , ed By Jim Holt

Signal Senior

Staff Writer

7 yea

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two resc ues

NEWS rs later, crash sur

FOURTH OF JULY PARADE ROUTE

vivor glad to

be alive at

daughter’s book-sign ing By Jim Holt

Signal Senior

Staff Writer

When firefi steep emba ghters rappelled David A8 was foun La Vau who in had gone nkment to rescu down the side of d vine six daysin a 200-foot-deep2011 SUBSCRIBE TODAY last week over a precipice one a driver whose a car , they learn Sand Cany raoff of Lake after crashing cupants had, JULY 3, 2018 TUESDAY, ed that his car75¢ Tuesday - Friday one of the on Road people just Hughes Road show named Bella until now, elude car’s ochow happ d them — ed be alive The dog . $1 Weekender y he a pup Satur up for a copy day as peoplewas to of the Angewas plucked from lined of the book ordeal. ple trained les National Fore the wild environs about his st in helping His daug Heather animals. by the very peoGrah Today’s Forecast am, an wrote a bookhter, Lisa A. Way Stati empl called, “But Kerr, day: The which windon on Little Tuju oyee of Wildlife 661-259-1234 com Not story nga s Toof David Canyon chronicling arating the its way through La the moun Road, experienc her father’s near Vau,” spotted the Santa Clarita Valle tains sepDULCE e, AGUA DULCE | death AGUA | VERDE VAL pupp | the VERDE VALly’s y from CASTAIC|fami | CASTAIC RANCH y by itself ate|searc STEVENSONRANCH This after VALENCIA || STEVENSON SAUGUS || VALENCIA NEWHALL || SAUGUS COUNTRY || NEWHALL h to find desp CANYON COUNTRY in the roug Sunland, CANYON him and the erroad to recov the 3-mo a frantic weekend-l h nth-o long ong effor terrain. On Satur ery. “Heather ld dog. t to find held a bookday, she and her Sand Cany was on her way Book store -signing at The father Deanna Armon Road, when to work, driving on Open she foun Road at Whit on Soledad Cany Station, said bruster, spokeswo d (Bell man for the a),” “My dad es Canyon Road on “She follo Monday. Way said Mon is very humble,” . found a safe wed the dog and day. Kerr to see peop “He was so road,” she place to pull over waited until she excit le ran off a said. “She jump to the side of “People at the book signi ed the bit. But, ed out and ‘Can I get just kept askin ng. she was able la) down the dog And, he my picture with g him brought herand put her in the to calm her (Belcar. And, same ‘Thasigned each bookyou?’ By Jim Holt The dog, here.” then she Kerr said. nks for the supp the Signal Senior Staff Writer was descr found within 24 ort,’” was brou ibed as dehydrate hours of the crash She said d and hung ght David La Vau who in 2011 “I was very of the book-sign ry when it, Rescuers to safety. excit at was found in a 200-foot-deep rathe Way ed that there ing: traffic comi owner on Stati vine six days after crashing his car there was) ng in and out and was pick up thesocial media and on found the dog’ arranged dog. off of Lake Hughes Road showed This book a buzz about our (that for them s book to has touch people just how happy he was to lives. ed a lot . By Jim Holt be alive Saturday as people lined of “My main Signal Senior Staff Writer up for a copy of the book about his purpose ways been A tow truck has to alordeal. operator share with See FOUN When firefighters to forgive the side of a down ter beingrappelled watc D, A6 peop hes ascara His daughter, Lisa A. Kerr, and, most and also be forgi le, a driver Toyota rescueabou to lifted Castaic on steep embankment t 200whose wrote a book called, “But Not TofeetRoad Septon. 30, by a crane Corolla reaches theSignal file photo yourself.” of all, learn to forgiven Canyon Sand2011 had gone over a precipice on ve day: The story of David La Vau,” surfa . DavidocLa Vau survito Lake Hughes Road ce aflast week, they learned that one of the car’s chronicling her father’s near death ved the crash north of cupants had, until now, eluded them — a pup experience, the family’s desper. named Bella. ate search to find him and the long By Crystal The dog was plucked from the wild environs See LA VAU, road to recovery. Duan Signal Staff A6 of the Angeles National Forest by the very peoWriter On Saturday, she and her father Santa Clari in helping animals. ple held a book-signing at The Open ta’strained the state rate eclip employee of Wildlife Graham, A natio averageHeather ses an Book store on Soledad Canyon twoof 2.1 perce as well as Way Canyon Road, week indicnal study released Tujunga bedroom onnt,Little the natioStation Road at Whites Canyon Road. in Santasepis $2,56the mountains nal growth rateates Santa Clarita’s this of 1.4 percent, which way through itsge Clarita winds avera 4, and “My dad is very humble,” Kerr but has decre a one-b is $1,99 Sunland, from now at 4.1 from year to yearrent compared to arating Valley edroom 0.2 percent, down the Santa 5. This ased Clarita said Monday. “He was so excited markterrain. by 0.04 percreas month, rough s a $4 in- cent, according in the from last percent, a slight declinis renting platf last itself e for by puppy theonlin spotted twomonth’s 4.9 orm e see people at the book signing. to to Salviati, bedrooms the site. Aparafter Only 21 of to find effort increase tmenat List weekend-long frantic $3 percent. e revealed Monday. an Apar and This “People just kept asking him housing econ tment List from June for a one-bedroo a ies in Ame the 100 largest The July the 3-month-old dog. citrica . m fall medi ‘Can I get my picture with you?’ Much of omist. an Santa over the have seen rents work, driving on rate forwas on her way to “Heather Clari the SCV past year, a mont And, he signed each book the ta’s (Bella),” ’s rent month-to- an additional h rentshe though growth can be attrib when Sand Canyon Road, chanfound 24 ‘Thanks for the support,’” same gene ge forthe gains saw uted to JulyWay Deanna Armbruster, spokeswoman for is at such of less than 1.0 modest in theral growth in popu a Kerr said. as Santa Los Ange percent, lation Station, said Monday. Clari les She said of the book-signing: ta, said Chris metro area. “She followed the dog and waited until she “I was very excited that there was found a safe place to pull over to the side of the traffic coming in and out and (that See RENT , A6 road,” she said. “She jumped out and the dog there was) a buzz about our book. ran off a bit. But, she was able to calm her (Belbook has touched a lot of This la) down and put her in the car. And, then she lives. brought her here.” “My main purpose has alThe dog, found within 24 hours of the crash, ways been to share with people, was described as dehydrated and hungry when it to forgive and also be forgiven was brought to safety. and, most of all, learn to forgive By Brennon Rescuers at the Way Station found the dog’s yourself.” Dixson Signal Staff owner on social media and arranged for them to Signal file photo Writer pick up the dog. afA tow truck operator watches as a Toyota Corolla reaches the surface After heari ng abou lifted about 200 feet by a crane on to Lake Hughes Road north of ter being See LA VAU, A6 his fight By Danie with Sanfi t Carter Sarkar, lle Korzh 2011. David La Vau survived the crash. See FOUND, A6 30,enya Sept. and the recen Castaic lippo For Theon k Signal t million-do syndrome ment to llar fund Hyatt Rege his clinical moveThe crow trial, the ncy Vale nounced d-pleasing ncia retur has anthat it will ns to Conc dollar from donate starting thisSanta Clarita for erts in the Park series a music-fill viewing evenits upcoming firewevery weekend Conc at Cent ed summ t to the youn orks erts Castaic. er, on by the in the Park are ral Park. g boy from Apartment List “Our entire publicClarita Santa Clari free from July city of Santa events 0.2 percent, down by 0.04 per- Salviati, an eclipses 7 untiltwo-bedroom tainevery staff was moved by Santa Clarita’s rate housing economist. By Crystal Duan Saturday put Getpercent, cent, according to the site. 25. The a one-bedroom and show ready to isAug. $2,564, 2.1 Austi night paper regarthe article in Saturdeeply In this May the state average ofkets, break Much of the SCV’s rent largest cits start Staff Writer Signal out your The a $4at ingrab marks Thislawn 2017 phot n Dave/ is $1,995. 7 p.m. Only 21 of the 100 average some tasty the fight to ding Carter Sarka day’s on Pond to a as well as the national o, Jennifer Signal (See additional chair site and a ies in America have seen rents growth can be attributed for stwo-bedrooms creasesnack listen to some photo Sarkar carri has decreased from local s and blansyndrome save him from Sanfir and a clinic erosa Street in of 1.4 percent, butband s at signa this study Castaic.A national es released vendors on-fall over the past year, though general growth in population lscv.com) s comi of yourfor a one-bedroom al trial that her son rent online ng $3 increase to last month, sales coord,” said Natasha Zamb lippo favor Carter compared SarkarSanta in the Los Angeles metro area. indicates might helpweekThe Here’s a Listto the Saug to a home familClarita’s rano, June. us park. ite genre tribute an additional 24 saw modest from y raise Apartment breakdown Carter’srate platform Conc Valencia. inator at Hyatt renting is year deve to d year from percent, $978 1.0 growth than less fight lop of Rege gains “We at Hyat month-toof each ,467 Clarita’s musc against Sanf ncy seizu to getMonday. erts in the Park:Santa to contribute revealed band perfo is at such as Santa Clarita, said Chris See RENT, A6 decline ilippo synd res and le pains, expe now at 4.1 percent, a slight July to this fightt would like rming at month rent change for our parki The romeJuly their mid- then, ultimately rienc 4.9 percent. . median rate for a month’s by fromelastwoul ng d fund to late-t , die July 7 a nity to watc structure to the offering Sarka r, Carter’s eens, said Jenni in give Carter a clinical trial that ing Fourth h fireworks this commucould fer chance at moth Wan As er. ted, “Ove a upcomof resul life. r the lineup of a Bon Jovi tribu Children July.” draiser in t, the family held been a gathe years the struc te band, is the past a funture has geles, the Concerts in the Park Sanfilippo who are diagnosed ring place first up in goal to dona month with unobstruc band . syndrome to have with The rock is made up of Based out of Los the an will likely the 501(c)(3) te a million dolla the (and firewted view of the festiv playing to ’n’ roll group professional musi Anities Cure Sanfi nonprofit organ rs to Zambrano orks) from Six cians. izatio lippo Foun Flags,” said. views. Wansold out venues had immense succe dation, whic n and garne ted was ss, requests h from agen finally created ring rave rewith the after nume Weather ts and prom band on other See CART ....... rous INDEX oters who ER, A6 ....... proje Lottery . worked . cts. ....... ...... ..

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A tale of two rescues

7 years later, crash survivor glad to be alive at daughter’s book-signing

Missing puppy found after having run away from scene of crash; animal was hungry, dehydrated when saved

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SKYBOX TEXT

Today’s Fore cast

City’s re nt gro

wth rate Faith above st ate avera ge Coupons Home Improvement Hya tt joins Carter’s Hotel pla Business News ns event pro to donate fight SCV’s ceeds tr It’s the Law Column Sanchild’sfilippobattlesynagadrotoinsmet to the g ibute reats Concerts set to ret in the Park ser Right Here Right Now urn to Ce ies ntral Par k Color Comics

City’s rent growth rate above state average

E s t a b l is h e d 1 9 1

tribute Hyatt joins Carter’s fight SCV’s to the greats

Opinion

Hotel plans to donate event proceeds to child’s battle against Sanfilippo syndrome

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See CONC

Concerts in the Park series set to return to Central Park

cal news lo T S E B e Th source in the n io t a m r fo and in Valley! Santa Clarita Good mo

rning to Signal subscri By Brennon Dixson Louis Gara ber si Signal Staff Writer of Canyon Country After hearing about Carter Sarkar, his fight with Sanfilippo syndrome and the recent million-dollar movement to fund his clinical trial, the Hyatt Regency Valencia has announced that it will donate every dollar from its upcoming fireworks viewing event to the young boy from Castaic. “Our entire staff was deeply moved by the article in Saturday’s paper regarding Carter Sarkar and the fight to save him from Sanfilippo syndrome,” said Natasha Zambrano, sales coordinator at Hyatt Regency Valencia. “We at Hyatt would like to contribute to this fight by offering our parking structure to the community to watch fireworks this upcoming Fourth of July.” Children who are diagnosed with Sanfilippo syndrome will likely

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By Danielle Korzhenyak For The Signal

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Austin Dave/The Signal (See additional photos at signalscv.com)

home In this May 2017 photo, Jennifer Sarkar carries her son Carter to a to get on Ponderosa Street in Castaic. The Sarkar family raised $978,467 a clinical trial that might help Carter’s fight against Sanfilippo syndrome. develop muscle pains, experience seizures and then, ultimately, die in their mid-to late-teens, said Jennifer Sarkar, Carter’s mother. As a result, the family held a fundraiser in the past month with the goal to donate a million dollars to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Cure Sanfilippo Foundation, which

would fund a clinical trial that could give Carter a chance at life. “Over the years the structure has been a gathering place to have an unobstructed view of the festivities (and fireworks) from Six Flags,” Zambrano said.

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July 7

Wanted, a Bon Jovi tribute band, is first up in the lineup of Concerts in the Park. Based out of Los Angeles, the band is made up of professional musicians. The rock ’n’ roll group had immense success, playing to sold out venues and garnering rave reviews. Wanted was finally created after numerous requests from agents and promoters who worked with the band on other projects. See CONCERTS, A8

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The crowd-pleasing Concerts in the Park series returns to Santa Clarita for a music-filled summer, starting this weekend at Central Park. Concerts in the Park are free public events put on by the city of Santa Clarita every Saturday night from July 7 until Aug. 25. The shows start at 7 p.m. Get ready to break out your lawn chairs and blankets, grab some tasty snacks from local vendors onsite and listen to some of your favorite genre tribute bands coming to the Saugus park. Here’s a breakdown of each band performing at Concerts in the Park:

Good morning to Signal subscriber Louis Garasi of Canyon Country

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